BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)— The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) administration has overturned the decision of the former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of forcing Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda to go on leave pending retirement, MaraviPost has learnt.
In a Notice signed by Chief Secretary Zanga-zanga Chikhosi, the government says Nyirenda will continue discharging his duties arguing the issue of accumulated leave days will be handled by the Judicial Service Commission.
“Government wishes to inform the general public that the Honourable Andrew A.K.C Nyirenda, SC, the Chief Justice of the Republic of Malawi has not proceeded on leave as was announced on 12 June, 2020.
“Regarding the accumulated leave days of the Honourable the Chief Justice, it is a matter between the Honourabkle the Chief Justice and the Judicial Service Commission. The Honourable the Chief Justice continues to discharge his duties as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Malawi,” reads the letter.
In February, Nyirenda led the court that annulled the 2019 re-election of Malawi President Peter Mutharika, who described the ruling as a miscarriage of justice.
Mutharika, through his secretary to cabinet, announced on June 12 that Nyirenda had reached the retirement age of 65 and would effectively proceed on leave pending his retirement due in December 2021.
Andrew Nyirenda, born on 26 December, 1956, was appointed in March 2015 as the country’s Chief Justice.
He has a Bachelor of Laws from Chancellor College of the University of Malawi which he received in 1980 and a Masters of Laws from Hull University, England obtained in 1985.
