President Chakwera to Choose New Leader For Tumbukas; Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe
By Fiona Manda and Pilirani Samson
Mzuzu, April 13, Mana: The Mzuzu High Court Tuesday nullified installation of Walter Mtima Gondwe as Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe in a case which Joseph Bongololo Gondwe claimed he was the rightful heir to the throne.
In his judgment, the high court judge, Thomson Ligowe said the appointment and installation of Mtima Gondwe was unlawful, unconstitutional, and procedurally unfair as he was not appointed by State President.
The court found that the appointment letter was not written by the President’s and had no signature as it is required by the law.
Mzuzu High Court has nullified the chieftaincy of Mtima Gondwe who was Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe of Rumphi District.
Presiding over the case, Judge Thomson Ligowe described the appointment of Mtima as unlawful, unconstitutional and unprocedurally unfair.
Passing the ruling, Judge Ligowe has acknowledged that Mtima will continue serving in an acting capacity while awating the country’s President to appoint another paramount chief.
The case was brought to court for judicial review by Joseph Bongololo Gondwe, who claimed to be the right heir to the chieftaincy.
In October 2019, the then Minister of Local Government Ben Phiri installed Mtima Gondwe Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe at a secret ceremony that was conducted at senior chief Mwankhunikira Headquarters in Rumphi District.
Human Rights Watch Submission on the Republic of Malawi to the UN Human Rights Committee
131st Session
March 2021
We write to you ahead of the United Nations Human Rights Committee’s upcoming review of the Republic of Malawi to highlight key areas of concern in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity that Human Rights Watch hopes will inform this aspect of the Committee’s consideration of the government of Malawi’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
This submission covers the lack of progress made on key concerns related to sexual orientation highlighted by the Committee during its last review of Malawi in 2014, including criminalisation of consensual adult same-sex sexual conduct, violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, stigma and discrimination in access to health care services and responsibilities of the Malawi Human Rights Commission.