The scheduling conference in the Judicial Review caseofAnti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general Martha Chizuma has been moved to April 28 2023.

The case, moved by the Malawi Law Society (MLS) on legality of matters surrounding Chizuma’s interdiction, was supposed to come before Justice Mike Tembo yesterday at the High Court of Malawi in Blantyre.

One of the lawyers representing the Attorney General (AG), George Jivason Kadzipatike, said yesterday that they were informed that the postponement was due to the effects of Cyclone Freddy.

“We have been informed that the court does not have water and electricity. So, the case has been moved to 28th April. This is understandable looking at how devastating this cyclone has been,” he said.

MLS president Patrick Mpaka also confirmed the postponement, but said the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal registrar Kondwani Banda was better placed to provide reasons for the same.

But Banda could not be reached for comment.

Kadzipatike: The case
no longer exists

On Wednesday, AG Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda expressed surprise at the move, saying: “I’m surprised. The issue is now academic. The lawyers we engaged can provide more details.”

Kadzipatike said there was no longer any dispute for the court to try and settle since the criminal case against Chizuma was discontinued and the interdiction was cancelled.

But Mpaka hoped that the judge would provide directions on questions already presented before court on whether they are all academic or not following the withdrawals.

Among others, the MLS sought review on the decisions made by Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba to interdict Chizuma, but also police and the magistrate’s court in Lilongwe to issue the summons.

MLS wants the court to review whether such decisions were in line with the Republican Constitution and directions in the Corrupt Practices Act as they provide guidelines on how to treat the director of the ACB

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