Malawi - December 2024

On 20 December, Malawi’s National Assembly passed three bills, which will introduce a comprehensive regulatory framework for the judiciary that is intended to strengthen its independence and accountability. Among other things, the new framework expands the powers of the judicial regulator, the Judicial Service Commission, it creates an Independent Complaints Commission to receive and address public grievances against judicial officers, and it establishes a Judiciary Fund to ensure adequate funding for the judicial system and protect its financial independence. The long-awaited reforms have been championed by the Malawi Law Society which, among other organisations, has alleged systemic corruption within the country’s judiciary. On 28 January, State House announced that President Chakwera had assented to the Judicial Service Administration Bill and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill. No mention was made of the third bill, the Courts (Amendment) Bill.    

Sources: Parliament of Malawi (1), Parliament of Malawi (2), Parliament of Malawi (3), Malawi Law Society, The Tablet, Deutsche Welle, Capital FM Malawi