Judges shun Mutharika at Independence rally

Judges from the High Court and Supreme Court of Malawi shunned the invitation by the state to attend Independence cerebrations feast in Blantyre following scathing attack which President Bingu wa Mutharika made on the judiciary.

Government through events organising committee which was chaired by Joyce Banda, foreign affairs minister, invited judges to attend the 43rd independence cerebrations rally at Kamuzu Stadium.

The judges unanimously did not avail themselves at the state function which was conspicuously attended by the newly handpicked chief justice, Lovemore Munlo who has not been a member of the bench before his appointment.

“The judges could not attend the function because they were sure if President Mutharika would spare them from his outburst which he has included the judges when he is bashing his political rivals,” said a source from the High Court in Blantyre.

High Court registrar, Sylvester Kalembela could not immediately comment on the matter.

But Banda said the July 6 event was not political but national as Malawi celebrated 43 years since they broke the bondage of the British colonial masters.

Supreme Court last month granted powers to the Speaker of Parliament to expel parliamentarians who switch parties, a decision that would see the collapse of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which is largely blended by defectors from the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) which successfully sponsored President Mutharika in 2004 poll but he later ditched it.

In a special radio and television address to the nation recently, President Mutharika attacked the Supreme Court of Appeal for their landmark ruling.

He also blamed former president, Dr Bakili Muluzi, of "masterminding" a Supreme Court ruling.

Mutharika was the referral authority in the case