Ministry of Justice says it has prepared six Bills to be tabled in the forthcoming Mid-Year Budget Review Meeting of Parliament scheduled for November 13 to December 8 2023.

The ministry’s spokesperson Frank Namangale in an interview yesterday saidthese are Judicial Service and Administration Bill, Investment Promotion Bill, Public Service Bill, Ombudsman Amendment Bill, Tobacco Bill and Elderly Bill.

There is also the Public Service Bill, which seeks to reform the public sector and reduce powers of the President, and the Elderly Bill which garners protection of the elderly amid continued torture and murders on allegations of witchcraft.

Namangale said British High Commissioner Fiona Ritchie was also briefed about the Bills on Tuesday when she made a courtesy call at the ministry’s offices in Lilongwe.

Ritchie: We wanted to know their preparedness

He said: “She requested to know how prepared the ministry was ahead of the meeting of Parliament this November and Bills expected to be tabled.

“The British envoy also wanted to know the challenges being faced, among other general issues.”

Namangale said the British envoy had a meeting with  Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo, Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda, Solicitor General Allison M’bang’ombe and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Masauko Chamkakala.

During the meeting, M’bang’ombe told Ritchie that the Public Service Bill will be tabled as part of President Lazarus Chakwera’s campaign promise to reduce presidential powers and have an efficient public service.

Some of the challenges relayed to Ritchie included lack of office space for the newly established Financial Crimes Court which is currently using the General Division of the High Court.

On her part, Ritchie expressed satisfaction with the Bills to be tabled.

She said she anticipates that some of the Bills will help address challenges such as elderly killings and ensuring effectiveness in the civil service.

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