The Commonwealth Lawyers Association has called upon for an independent inquiry into allegations that some individuals attempted to bribe Constitutional Court judges presiding over an opposition challenge of the outcome of last year’s Malawi presidential elections.
In a statement made available to APA on Wednesday, the lawyers said the independent probe should take place “as soon as possible”.
“An independent impartial, honest and competent judiciary is integral to upholding the rule of law, engendering public confidence and dispensing justice,” it said.
The comment by the Commonwealth Lawyers Association comes a few days after Malawi’s Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda lodged a complaint to the country’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) about the alleged attempt to bribe the judges in order to influence the outcome of the court case.
ACB director Reyneck Matemba recently told journalists that his body has opened an investigation into the matter.
“We have recorded the statements of the judges but as of now we cannot reveal the names of bribers for fear of jeopardizing the investigations,” he said.
Malawians are eagerly waiting for the outcome of the Constitutional Court hearings following petitions made by opposition Malawi Congress Party and United Transformation Movement to nullify 2019 presidential elections due to irregularities.
FT/jn/APA