By Chisomo Phiri
The Malawi Law Society (MLS) says it has completed drafting key regulations and supporting instruments aimed at enabling the full operationalisation of the recently enacted Judicial Reform Acts.
The drafted instruments include proposed regulations, procedures for the Independent Complaints Commission of the Judiciary (ICCJ), impeachment procedures, and a Code of Conduct for judicial officers.
The Judicial Reform Acts comprise the Constitutional (Amendment) Act, 2025; the Judicial Service Administration Act, 2025; and the Courts (Amendment) Act, 2025, all of which were passed by the National Assembly on December 20, 2024.
However, on January 24, 2025, Former President Lazarus Chakwera assented to only two of the three laws,the Constitutional (Amendment) Act, 2025 and the Judicial Service Administration Act, 2025,leaving out the Courts (Amendment) Act, 2025.
On Monday,the judicial reform stakeholders gathered in Lilongwe for an engagement workshop to discuss, review, and refine the draft documents before they are formally presented to government.
Those attended the workshop include representatives from the MLS, the Law Commission, the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), Youth and Society (YAS), the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI), and the Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance (CHREAA).
In an interview with journalists,MLS Chief Executive Officer (CEO ) Chrispin Ngunde said the drafted instruments are intended to fast-track implementation of the reforms by providing a solid foundation for formal rule-making.
“Our aim is to submit these draft instruments to the Ministry of Justice to trigger formal consultations and guide the development of official rules and regulations required to operationalise the Acts,” said Ngunde.