On the Second Sunday of Lent, which fell on February 25th, 2024, the Catholic Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi issued a Pastoral Letter wherein they condemned the Judiciary for forsaking its ‘integrity’ and becoming entangled in “corruption and partisanship”.
In part reads the letter:
“The price of judges and magistrates is no longer taboo; it’s an open secret that some lawyers thrive by bribing judges and magistrates to defeat the ends of justice. Some judges and magistrates are accountable to no one. They take years to hear a case, yet the Judiciary does nothing to discipline them. Instead, they are rewarded with promotion.”
However, Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda, speaking on Friday, expressed the Judiciary’s openness to constructive criticism, including that voiced in the Episcopal Conference of Malawi’s recent pastoral letter.
Addressing attendees at the Association of Magistrates in Malawi’s (AMA) 5th annual general conference in Liwonde, Mzikamanda emphasized the importance of using such critiques to enhance the delivery of justice. He urged magistrates to embrace informed feedback for the betterment of the justice system.
AMA President Montfort Misunje echoed these sentiments, noting that the association’s mandate includes fostering integrity among its members despite facing challenges such as resource shortages and inadequate training.
The AMA, boasting approximately 250 members, is slated to elect new office bearers on the upcoming Saturday.
