High Court rescues Yeremiah Chihana on suspension pending appeal as BWB chief

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Blantyre Water Board Chief Executive Officer Yeremia Chihana has secured a temporary court order blocking the enforcement of his suspension as he moves to appeal the decision before the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal.

The High Court granted Chihana leave to appeal and issued a stay of execution on the May 19 ruling, effectively putting the suspension on hold until the appeal is heard and determined.

The order was issued after the court accepted that the matter was urgent and raised substantive legal issues worth consideration at the appellate level.

In its ruling, the court noted it was satisfied that the intended appeal presented “serious arguable questions” and that the balance of justice required maintaining the current situation to avoid prejudice.

The interim order also restrains the Blantyre Water Board, its board members, and any agents from taking steps to enforce, implement, publish, or act on the suspension decision while the appeal is pending. This means Chihana remains in office in the interim.

The directive will remain in force until the Supreme Court of Appeal makes a final determination on the matter.

The development marks the latest twist in the legal dispute involving BWB’s leadership, with the case now set to advance to the country’s highest court for review.

Jones Gadama

Holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (English) and Diplomas in Journalism and French Language. Seasoned journalist and educator with over 10 years of experience in writing feature stories, analysis, and investigative pieces on social justice, human rights, and Malawian culture. Skilled in language instruction and examination. Passionate about creating engaging content and fostering a supportive learning environment.