LILONGWE(Maravipost)-Human rights activist and Malawi Watch leader Billy Banda has strongly spoken out against what he describes as selective justice in the handling of allegations involving Justice Kenyatta Nyirenda, insisting that the rule of law must apply equally to all citizens regardless of their public status.
In an interview with Maravipost on Wednesday, Banda emphasized that justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done, warning that public confidence in the country’s legal system is at risk if allegations involving high-ranking officials are treated differently from those involving ordinary citizens.
“Justice must be justified. Everyone must face the law irrespective of public status,”
“No individual, no matter how powerful or politically connected, should be shielded from accountability.”said Banda.
Banda further cited the widely held principle that no one is above the law, pointedly referencing to the former Local Government Minister Richard Chimwendo Banda, arguing that political influence should never interfere with legal processes.
“Chimwendo is not above the law. Malawi is governed by laws, not personalities,” he said.
The Malawi Watch leader called on relevant oversight institutions, including the Judicial Service Commission and law enforcement agencies, to act independently and transparently in addressing the allegations surrounding Justice Nyirenda.
He warned that failure to do so could deepen public mistrust in democratic institutions.
Banda’s remarks come amid growing public debate and scrutiny on how allegations involving senior officials are being handled, with civil society organizations increasingly demanding consistency, transparency, and fairness in the administration of justice.
Legal analysts say that perceived double standards in the justice system risk undermining constitutional democracy and could set a dangerous precedent if left unaddressed.
As calls for accountability grow louder, Banda urged Malawians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice through lawful and democratic means.
“This is not about personalities or politics,” Banda concluded. “It is about protecting the integrity of our justice system and the future of our democracy.”
Unandi Banda handing over petition to Lawmaker Awali
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil society leaders on Monday, September 14, 2020 petitioned Malawi Parliament that Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director General Reyneck Matemba be summoned in the house to clarify on certain matters of national importance that are related to corruption
The matters including the outrageous and obscene MK7.6 Billion Legal fee award by the Supreme Court to Dr. Chilima and Dr. Lazarus Chakwera who happens to be the Head of State and Vice President respectively.
The grouping says the petition is in line with citizens ambitions to operate in an enabling environment in order to contribute efficiently to national building and that it is unfair for the citizens to have no voice on matters that are directly upsetting and denying them a right to decent life and development.
“ACB director must investigate and inform Malawians if it is logical in nature for the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to approve this paying having in mind they are also serving the current administration.
“The bureau must investigate on money that was allocated for National Celebrations on 6th July, 2020 that ended up being cancelled due to Covid 19. Who made the banned that were displayed everywhere in the city of Lilongwe and what process was used to award such a contract and at how much?”, reads the demands.
The grouping led by their leaders Billy Banda, Unandi Banda, Luther Mambala and Philip Kamangirah also want Parliament through Legal Affairs Committee must question ACB boss on the alleged MK5 billion contract to renovate State Residents.
“We want the bureau to investigate procurement of the Lilongwe City Council vehicle which raises huge suspicion looking at the alleged price
“ACB must investigate and also come out on the allegations that all Tonse MPs had an audience with the President soon after being sworn in and that everyone went smiling after being given some cash amounting to MK500, 000 each. Where did this money come from and what was the basis for such a hand out when it is against the Tonse government to maintain,” reads the petitioned.
Bester Awali, Malawi Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee member who received the petition assured the grouping that their concerns will be channeled to the committee’s chairperson for action.
The petition has been copied also to The Speaker of National Assembly Catherine Gotani Hara, Leader of Government Richard Chimwendo Banda and Leader of Opposition Kondwani Nankhumwa.
Below is the full petition to Parliament:
PETITION TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR NEED TO SUMMON THE ANTI-CORRUPTION BUREAU DIRECTOR TO CLARIFY ON CERTAIN MATTERS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE
The Civil society leaders having noted the responsibilities of providing checks and balances through unstoppable oversight in a democratic state of the Republic of Malawi, hereby submit this Petition to the National Assembly in order to request the August House to summon the Anti- Corruption Bureau Director to clarify on certain matters of national importance that are related to corruption.
We recognize the role the Anti- Corruption Bureau play in its effort to fight corruption in this country.
Perceiving that the economic stoppage is further cuddling the ordinary citizens into massive and enormous poverty therefore refuting their rights as preserved in the Republican Constitution Eliciting our thoughts on the theme “time to hold office bearer.
We submit this petition in order to bring to your attention that on the 10th September, 2020, the Nation Newspaper carried an advert under the title “NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO AWARD A CONTRACT”.
The notice indicates that the Ministry of Health intends to award a contract to supply and deliver 35 ambulances (Lot.1) to a successful bidder by the name Grandview International Limited, whose address is Reliance House, Plot No. 35374, Thabo Mbeki Road, Lusaka, ZAMBIA.
As Civil society Leaders, we are equally aware that Malawi has potential companies and individuals who can afford to deliver on the same and therefore any attempt to award this contract to a foreign national is denying Malawians an opportunity to economically succeed.
While we commend the ACB on the steps taken on the same as evident by the notice to the Secretary for Health to produce or furnish the documents to ACB, dated 11th September, 2020, we would like to call upon Parliament to allow the ACB Director to appear before the Legal Affairs Committee and assure Malawians that this contract is cancelled entirely and such decision be made available to the Public and those involved must face the long arm of the Law.
We further wish to understand the position of the Anti- Corruption Bureau on Mr. Chunara who happens to be involved in a cement corruption saga. Every Malawian is eager to know what has transpired on this person from the time he was arrested, appeared in Court and given bail.
As Malawians we have not been told as to how far this matter has gone. We are afraid the Tonse government may also engage the same person in some dubious contractual agreements which may compromise the work of the ACB in their fight against corruption. Against this background, this submission is made.
On another serious note, we would like to ask the ACB to tell Malawians how long they have gone in investigating the immediate past Former Head of State, His Excellency Professor Peter MUTHARIKA.
We are aware that the police conducted its investigations on the former Head of State and until now Malawians have not yet been furnished with any information.
The Anti- Corruption Bureau went further in freezing all accounts of the former Head of State and no grounds for such action have been given. Could this be done on the basis of suffocating him politically?
If not what are the charges levelled against him so that it doesn’t seem to be a political persecution.
We would also like to call upon the ACB to report to Malawians efforts taken on current Government’s perceived matters that demonstrate lack of transparency and accountability on:
The outrageous and obscene MK7.6 Billion Legal fee award by the Supreme Court to Dr. Chilima and Dr. Lazarus Chakwera who happens to be the Head of State and Vice President respectively
Inform Malawians if it is logical in nature for the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to approve this paying having in mind they are also serving the current administration.
Money that was allocated for National Celebrations on 6th July, 2020 that ended up being cancelled due to Covid 19. Who made the banned that were displayed everywhere in the city of Lilongwe and what process was used to award such a contract and at how much?
The alleged MK5 Billion contract to renovate State Residents.
Procurement of the Lilongwe City Council vehicle which raises huge suspicion looking at the alleged price
ACB must also come out on the allegations that all Tonse MPs had an audience with the President soon after being sworn in and that everyone went smiling after being given some cash amounting to MK500, 000 each. Where did this money come from and what was the basis for such a hand out when it is against the tonse government to maintain handouts. Call to Action We are hereby calling on Parliament to take these concerns with seriousness and that efforts are made to summon the Anti- Corruption Bureau Director within the next 7 days so that Malawians are fully informed on steps by ACB as requested by the Civil Society Leaders. That the leadership of the Anti- Corruption Bureau will honor this call knowing as a governance institution, it strives to serve the aspirations of Malawians through creation of an environment that is free from corruption. This petition is in line with citizens ambitions to operate in an enabling environment in order to contribute efficiently to national building and that it is unfair for the citizens to have no voice on matters that are directly upsetting and denying them a right to decent life and development. Signed: Billy Banda Unandi Banda Luther Mambala Philip Kamangirah Dated: 14th Septemb
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Watch Executive Director who is also—a social-political activist, Billy Banda was on Friday reportedly forced out of a meeting in which Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Goodall Gondwe, was engaging Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) over the controversial MK4 billion at Capital Hill for apparently “gate-crushing.”
This happened as Banda was not among the invitees to the meeting.
The finance Minister Gondwe is the one who proposed that the meeting should take place with the CSOs.
The addressee in his invitation letter was Youth and Society Executive Director Charles Kajoloweka and copied to Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) led by Gift Trapence and Centre for Human Rights Rehabilitation (CHRR) of Timothy Mtambo.
Trapence, a popular human rights activist and also CEDEP executive director, who attended the meeting, confirmed the development.
The CEDEP director therefore observed that it was not a surprising matter.
“Its true that Banda was chased out of the meeting. Before the meeting, we noticed there was an intruder and asked the Minister [Gondwe] to let him go.
They politely asked the person not to be in the meeting. Banda therefore complied and left. CSOs will always be divided. But we are principled and shall always stand for the voiceless. We are not opportunists,” Trapence said.
Government has asked the main opposition party, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to stop its dictatorial behaviour and become democratic when the party wants to serve Malawians.
This comes amid the allegation that MCP members were the ones attacking the people during the John Chilembwe annual memorial prayers held on Sunday in Chiradzuru district.
Speaking to the media, government through its spokesperson Nicholas Dausi described MCP as a party with recycled thugs.
Dausi
He said MCP took the Chilembwe’s memorial function as political rally as the officials started distributing party materials such as T-shirts, stickers and others.
Dausi said this was the cause of the fracas at the function and not the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as reported.
“MCP has demonstrated itself to Malawians how it will lead this country when it will be in government. This is a party of recycled thugs and Malawians should tread carefully with it,” said Dausi.
The Malawi Police Service (MPS) has also admitted to have knowledge on the development saying some used weapons such as panga knives have been confiscated but no one has been arrested.
Activist Billy Banda has also condemned the development and asked political parties to stop politicizing government functions.
However, some eyewitness said it was the DPP thugs who attacked the people and not MCP.
Meanwhile, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has asked the DPP to apologize to Malawians than wasting time in cooking stories.
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