By Burnett Munthali
In Traditional Authority Mlolo, Nsanje District, the pursuit of justice has become a journey too expensive for many to make.
People there are calling on duty bearers to rehabilitate Fatima Court, which was damaged by floods, so they can access legal services closer to home.
The court’s closure has forced residents to travel to Bangula on the west bank of the Shire River or to Nsanje Boma for hearings.
For families already struggling with poverty, the distance is more than inconvenient — it is prohibitive.
Joshua Tembo from Napatsa Village says the cost of a one-way trip to court ranges between K50,000 and K60,000.
He explains that because of the expense, many cases simply “die a natural death” when complainants and witnesses cannot afford to travel.
Tembo notes that crime in the area is not rare, listing murder, theft, defilement and other criminal incidents as common occurrences.
Without a functioning local court, victims and communities are left with few options.
Patrick Williams of Gooke Village says some village heads have begun settling cases that fall outside their legal mandate.
He argues this is a direct result of people being unable to reach formal courts.
The issue was raised during a community police station executive review meeting held on Saturday in T/A Mlolo.
Nsanje District Commissioner Sandram Naluso told the gathering that government has communicated plans to rehabilitate courts using the Constituency Development Fund.
He said the communication arrived after council plans for the current year had already been finalized.
Naluso assured residents that all courts, including Fatima Court, will be included in the budget for the next fiscal year.
Nsanje Second Grade Magistrate Haneef Ngundende describes the absence of a court in Fatima as a violation of constitutional rights.
He states that access to justice, whether civil, criminal or administrative, is guaranteed by the Constitution.
Ngundende points out that a poor person cannot reasonably be expected to find K60,000 for transport to attend a hearing.
He adds that even efforts to take justice to the people through a mobile court are costly.
According to the magistrate, running a mobile court requires about 90 litres of fuel plus allowances for judicial officers and police.
Despite the challenges, Ngundende expressed optimism about plans by the council.
He said he was pleased that authorities intend to re-establish not only Fatima Court but also Nyachilenda Court in T/A Ndamera.
For communities in southern Nsanje, the promise of rebuilt courts represents more than infrastructure.
It represents the possibility of timely hearings, affordable justice, and the rule of law within reach.
Until then, residents continue to weigh the cost of a bus fare against the cost of letting a case go.
