Update: The Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate's Court has officially cancelled the arrest warrants issued against former Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) leaders Gift Trapence, Timothy Mtambo, and Reverend MacDonald Sembereka. According to Nyasa Times, Chief Resident Magistrate Austin Banda ruled on October 22 that the warrants were invalid. The defense successfully argued that the underlying criminal case had already been formally withdrawn by the State in October 2020, meaning the associated bail conditions no longer applied.
The High Court in Lilongwe has adjourned the treason and false news trial of Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa. Malawi24 reports that Judge Mzonde Mvula rescheduled the proceedings to November 17 following the death of a court clerk's relative. The trial was originally slated for this week, and the State is now expected to begin presenting its witnesses next month.
In a separate legal ruling, the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed a compensation appeal by former Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) Director General Charles Nsaliwa. Nyasa Times reports that a seven-member judicial panel, led by Deputy Chief Justice Lovemore Chikopa, upheld an earlier Industrial Relations Court decision awarding Nsaliwa K16 million for his 2014 constructive dismissal. The court rejected his bid for a larger payout, noting he had already received his full severance and continued to enjoy employment benefits until his contract expired.
On the anti-corruption front, the government has challenged UTM Party President Dalitso Kabambe and other political figures to present their evidence of graft directly to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) or the Malawi Police Service. According to Nyasa Times, Information Minister Shadric Namalomba issued a statement on October 21 asserting that public accusations do not establish criminal wrongdoing. Namalomba urged politicians to submit their evidence to formal law enforcement channels for proper investigation rather than making public pronouncements.