Judicial Service Commission’s Limited Response to Corruption Claims Draws Criticism for Lack of Accessibility
Concerns are growing over the Judicial Service Commission’s (JSC) approach to handling corruption allegations against prominent figures within Malawi’s judiciary, as the commission faces criticism for potentially limiting public participation in the investigative process.
Malawian lawyer Alexious Kamangila has been outspoken about what he views as barriers to public engagement, pointing out in a recent Facebook post that the JSC’s statement on the matter was only published in newspapers. This approach, he argued, restricts access for many who may wish to submit relevant information but lack physical or digital means to do so.
Kamangila further questioned the feasibility of the seven-day window provided for submitting evidence, criticizing the commission for not offering accessible platforms. In an interview with Times Group, he noted that gathering evidence and traveling to Lilongwe within the timeframe is challenging for many, particularly given that allegations against Justice Kennan Manda reportedly span years.
“The JSC seems to be staging a superficial process, as if putting a kangaroo on trial for crimes against sheep,” Kamangila said, suggesting that the commission’s call for information lacks transparency. He also claimed that the notice implies there are no outstanding complaints against Manda, which he believes is misleading.
The JSC’s October 31 notice requests credible information regarding Justice Manda and Magistrate Mangeana but has stirred concern about its limited outreach and rigid timeline, potentially undermining confidence in the inquiry’s inclusivity.
