High Court Halts AG's Application as Consent Order Proposed

The High Court Civil Division in Lilongwe this afternoon did not proceed with hearing an application by Attorney General (AG) Honourable Frank Mbeta, who sought to challenge judicial review permission earlier granted to Honourable Richard Chimwendo Banda. The matter was paused after Chimwendo Banda’s lawyer, George Jivason Kadzipatike, proposed outside the court entering a consent order to withdraw the case.

Kadzipatike suggested that the AG agree to withdraw the matter from the Civil Division, leaving only the ongoing case in the High Court Criminal Division where his client is answering to an attempted murder charge. The AG has indicated his willingness to proceed with the withdrawal. Once the consent order is finalised and submitted, it will be presented to the court for endorsement. If endorsed, this will formally close the Civil Division case.

The AG’s initial application, made on instructions from the Inspector General of Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions, sought to discharge the leave for judicial review and set aside all interim reliefs previously obtained by Chimwendo Banda.