The High Court of Malawi, Commercial Division, Principal Registry building, was officially opened on Wednesday, 30th April 2025, in Blantyre at a function held at the new premises. Upon arrival, His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, who presided over the official opening, was welcomed together with the First Lady, Madam Monica Chakwera, by the Honourable the Chief Justice of the Republic of Malawi, Rizine Robert Mzikamanda, the Vice President of Malawi, Right Honourable Dr. Michael Bizwick Usi, and the Minister of Justice, Honourable Titus Songiso Mvalo, among other judicial and government officials. The President then proceeded to cut a ribbon and unveil a plaque to symbolically open the building. He was later briefed about the project as he toured the magnificent four-storey building. He also witnessed a moot court before addressing the gathering that had come to witness the official opening.
In his speech, Chakwera celebrated the Malawi Judiciary’s integrity. He said that the Malawi Judiciary’s integrity should not only be celebrated and recognised, but also emulated. Chakwera referred to the famed story of the five judges in the 2019 Constitutional Case who displayed integrity by refusing to be bribed and went on to report to law enforcement the individual who attempted to bribe them. They later delivered a historical judgement, a story which the President said has turned Malawi into a centre for judicial excellence.
Speaking earlier during the ceremony, the Honourable the Chief Justice Rizine Robert Mzikamanda, emphasised the Judiciary’s full commitment to ensuring efficient and effective delivery of commercial justice in the new premises.
“We commit ourselves to addressing the concerns that numerous litigants raised as a consequence of the non-functioning of the Blantyre High Court, Commercial Division over a period of time. As the bulwark of the rule of law in our society, we remain mindful of delivering independent and impartial commercial justice in an efficient and effective manner. We are committed to remaining a Judiciary of international repute and of local relevance, even as we ensure that we address concerns about our work in this country. Most importantly, we want to make a positive contribution to the strengthening of the business environment so as to raise Malawi on the doing business index,” said Mzikamanda.
The Chief Justice also reminisced over the journey of the project, celebrating the efforts of former Chief Justice the late Lovemore Munlo, under whose leadership the project begun, and former Chief Justices Honourable Anastazia Msosa and Honourable Andrew Nyirenda who were also instrumental towards the project during their time. He later presented a gift, an artistic picture of the new building, to the President before inviting him to address the gathering.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Honourable Justices of Appeal, Honourable Judges of the High Court, other judicial officers and members of staff of the Malawi Judiciary, the current and former president of the Malawi Law Society and other representatives from the legal community, representatives of various stakeholders in the business community, traditional leaders, members of the clergy and government officials, among others.
The new building, which is located along Independence Drive in Blantyre, has resolved issues related to lack of court space, which hindered operations of the Commercial Division for close to eight months. The Division has officially occupied the building, which is also accommodating the Revenue Division of the High Court of Malawi.
The Commercial Division of the High Court of Malawi was established under Section 6a(1)(b) of the Courts Act to handle any matter of commercial significance arising from or related to business or commercial relationships, whether contractual or not.
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