Chief justice Andrew Nyirenda retires
Judiciary has announced that chief justice Andrew Nyirenda has retired
Registrar of courts Gladys Gondwe says the tenure of Nyirenda expired on 26th December 2021 upon his attainment of the age of 65 which is the mandatory retirement age as prescribed in the constitution
Gondwe says Justice of Appeal Rezine Mzikamanda will perform functions of the office of chief justice until the president appoints the successor of Nyirenda
According to Gondwe this is stipulated by the law which states that the most senior judge sitting on Supreme Court of appeal should act as chief justice
She says Nyirenda has led the judiciary with a mark of distinction since his appointment on 12th March 2015
“He will be remembered for the developmental strides the judiciary has experienced during his tenure of office,” Gondwe
Nyirenda was reinstated as chief justice by President Dr Lazarus Chakwera after former president Peter Mutharika sent him on forced leave as Malawi was preparing for 2019 presidential elections
The court ordered Mutharika and former secretary to government Lloyd Muhara to pay 69.5 million kwacha for ordered Nyirenda to forced leave
Mutharika and Muhara paid the money after the court threatened to freeze their property
The case was brought to court by Human Rights Defenders Coalition, Magistrates Association of Malawi, Malawi Law Society and Women Lawyers Association joined the case.
