Court Orders Elections Case Interpretation Continuation
Constitutional court has ordered that interpretation of presidential elections case from English into Chichewa must continue.
The court has made the ruling this afternoon after counsel of the first petitioner who is Dr Saulos Chilima, Marshal Chilenga applied to stop the interpretation because some information was being distorted.
In its judgment the court said the elections case is not limited to parties in court only but all those who participated and voted hence the need to open to all to follow through the interpretation.
“The court also considered quality of interpretation therefore made changes and significant improvements,” Judge Redson Kapindu said
The court rejected the argument of lawyer Msisya who is council of the second petition that is president of Malawi Congress Party MCP Dr Lazarus Chakwera to follow what happens in parliament which uses English in its deliberations.
The judge said the court holds different views because its proceedings do not apply to parliament.
On the application to limit time of cross examining the witness the court said “if chief elections officer of Malawi Elections Commission shall appear before it there will be no limitations but shall reserve the right to curtail where necessary.”
However, the judge said for all witnesses the court shall engage with their counsels and determine the time for cross examination
When the preliminary cross examination resumed the attorney general gave Chilima some questions to answer on Monday 12th August.
After that Kaphale asked Chilima the questions but within them he repeated the question which was asked before the adjournment of the case in the morning.
This did not please Chilima’s counsel Chilenga who objected the question therefore judge Ivy Kamanga intervened saying it was true the attorney general had asked the question and the witness answered it.
As the cross examination continued lawyer Chilenga asked Kaphale whether it was still the preliminary cross examination and when he will finish
However the judge interfered by asking the counsel to allow the attorney general to finish cross examining Chilima.
