The High Court of Malawi has stopped Ministry of Homeland Security from proceeding to revoke 396 citizenships of Burundians and Rwandans on the basis of public order.

Delivering the judgement in Blantyre yesterday, High Court Judge Jack N’riva further granted the 396 Burundians and Rwandans permission to apply for judicial review on government’s decision to revoke their citizenships.

This case, according to the claimants’ lawyer Chancy Gondwe, has nothing to do with refugees being relocated to Dzeleka Refugee Camp in Dowa.

Gondwe: Case has nothing to do with relocation

But according to the order granted yesterday, the revocation of their citizenship by the State was based on public order government is enforcing and on the decision of the High Court in the criminal case of 2017 between the Republic and former Home Affairs minister Uladi Mussa.

The court granted an injunction to stop government’s decision to revoke the citizenships and ordered that the judicial review be expedited.

In his judgement, N’riva said: “In view of the prudent case management which requires issues raising similar questions to be decided by one judge, it is directed that further hearing or scheduling of the matter herein be heard by Justice [Yakuwawa] Msiska of the Lilongwe District Registry (Civil Division) together with the matter registered as Judicial Review Cause No. 62 of 2023.”

The High Court in Lilongwe in October 2020 convicted Mussa on charges that included abuse of office, and to some extent, it related to illegal issuance of passports and citizenships to foreigners after taking bribes.

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