By Isaac Salima:
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has failed to pay K59.9 million of legal costs to the office of the Attorney General (AG).
In June this year, the High Court ordered the party to pay the office of the AG the money as costs for a case where the party was looking for interpretation after the High Court ruled that four Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) commissioners were appointed illegally.
The party was given two weeks to honour the payment and, after it failed, AG Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda, who represented the government in the case, instructed his lawyers to write the party in July, asking it to pay the money within four days.
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The AG said on Saturday that they are yet to receive the money.
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Chakaka Nyirenda was, however, noncommittal on the next course of action.
“We cannot disclose now. It will be known when the action is taken,” he said.
DPP legal adviser Charles Mhango, who received the AG’s letter on behalf of the party, said he had no idea if the money has been paid.
“That is an administrative issue. Call the secretariat,” Mhango said Sunday.
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When contacted, DPP administrative secretary Francis Mphepo said “Mwaimbira munthu wolakwika (you have called the wrong person)” before cutting the line.
The party’s spokesperson Shadric Namalomba could not pick up our calls.
The High Court had ruled that the four Mec commissioners— namely Arthur Nanthulu, Steve Duwa, Linda Kunje and Jean Mathanga, who former president Peter Mutharika appointed – had been appointed illegally, prompting the erstwhile party to seek the Constitutional Court’s interpretation.
In its letter, the AG, through his lawyer Abison Chitukula, said: “We have noted that your client has neglected and failed to pay the said costs within the prescribed period. It is on foregoing premises that we request immediate payment of the judgement debt.”
