Malawi

Articles and Opinions Malawi Rule of Law

In the lead-up to Malawi’s election ‘re-run’, its Government is in free fall

On 17 June, SALC's intern, Nicholas Bugeja's article titled " In the lead-up to Malawi's election re-run, its Government is in free fall" was published in the Independant Australia In the latest episode of Malawi’s increasingly fraught presidential election, President Peter Mutharika’s Government attempted to remove the Chief Justice, Andrew…

Amanda Shivamba18 Jun 2020

Malawi Rule of Law

Joint Statement on the Threats Against the Independence of Judges in Malawi

On 15 June 2020, civil society issued a joint statement calling upon Chief Justice Hon. Andrew Nyirenda and Hon. Judge Edward Twea to continue with their functions as judicial officers, and calling on the executive branch of the government of Malawi to respect the independence of the judiciary.Especially at this…

Amanda Shivamba15 Jun 2020

Children's Rights Malawi Ongoing cases Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights

Malawi: Seeking accountability for unlawful detention of pregnant learners

SALC is working with Youth Watch Society (YOWSO) in Malawi on a case seeking the payment of damages for false imprisonment after a Magistrates Court decision to fine parents of students who were pregnant and those responsible for the pregnancies at a school in Malawi. This follows a judgment in…

Staff Writer30 Apr 2020

Articles and Opinions Children's Rights Malawi

Malawi: Human rights during a lockdown

The Weekend Nation 25 April 2020 Victor Mhango from the Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance (CHREAA) and Anneke Meerkotter and Chikondi Chijozi from the Southern Africa Litigation Centre SALC) Malawi’s 2020 Public Health (Corona Virus Prevention, Containment and Management) Rules, prescribes what must happen if and when…

Staff Writer28 Apr 2020

Children's Rights Criminal Justice Focus areas Health Rights Malawi News

JOINT CIVIL SOCIETY STATEMENT CALLING FOR DECONGESTION OF MALAWI PRISONS AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC

9 April 2020, Malawi - We the undersigned organisations commend His Excellency, The State President, Arthur Peter Mutharika for including prison decongestion as one of the measures to combat COVID-19 in Malawi. In his Presidential Address on 4 April 2020, the State President announced new measures that the Government will undertake…

Anneke Meerkotter9 Apr 2020

Criminal Justice Malawi News

Joint Statement: CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS CALL FOR THE URGENT DECONGESTION OF PRISONS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19

With the COVID-19 pandemic having been declared a global emergency, the is an urgent need to address the high levels of congestion in Malawi prisons. The Malawi Government has appointed a Special Cabinet Committee on Coronavirus effective 7 March 2020, which has been established to provide overall policy guidance, assess…

Staff Writer18 Mar 2020

Malawi News SOGIE Rights

SALC IN THE NEWS: Malawian LGBTI activist ‘unlawfully’ arrested and detained in SA

On the 18th February 2020, Dispatch Live reported: A Malawian LGBTI activist was arrested and detained by police at the weekend after being asked for proof of his immigration status in South Africa. Eric Sambisa, director of Nyasa Rainbow Alliance, was allegedly asked about his status after the vehicle in…

Amanda Shivamba19 Feb 2020

Malawi News Rule of Law SOGIE Rights

Joint Statement Calling For The Immediate Release of Eric Sambisa

17 February 2020 - On Saturday 15th February, Eric Sambisa, Director of Nyasa Rainbow Alliance and prominent Malawian LGBTI activist was arrested and detained by the South African Police Services. Mr Sambisa entered the country on Sunday 9 February to attend the inception workshop for a new regional project promoting…

Amanda Shivamba18 Feb 2020

Children's Rights Malawi News

Malawi’s Rastafarians win landmark dreadlock ruling

CGTN Africa 9 February 2020 Makeda Mbewe was just six years old when she was kicked out of her primary school in Malawi for wearing her hair in the dreadlocks of her Rastafarian religion. Two years later, she is back in the playground, thanks to a landmark court ruling in…

Staff Writer10 Feb 2020

Children's Rights Freedom of Expression, Assembly and Association Malawi News

NEWS RELEASE: MALAWI HIGH COURT GRANTS ORDER IN FAVOUR OF RASTAFARI SCHOOL CHILDREN

14 January 2020 – On 14 January 2020, the High Court of Malawi in Zomba granted an interlocutory injunction compelling the Minister of Education to allow all children of Rastafari religion, who have dreadlocks, to enroll into Government Schools pending the finalisation of the matter. The order is in line…

Anneke Meerkotter15 Jan 2020