People across the Mzimba District worry about how long it takes to get justice in Malawi. They say these delays hurt basic rights, especially for those who need help most. The Malawi Human Rights Commission held a public meeting on Thursday, during which many shared their frustrations.
Local leader Inkosi Kampingo Sibande talked about how hard the system hits poor people. He pointed to expensive lawyer fees, far-away courts, and cases that keep getting pushed back. These problems leave many accused persons stuck in jail for years without ever seeing trial day.
The head of Mzimba Prison, Thomas Dambe, said they currently hold 216 people waiting for trial. Among them sit 49 murder suspects - some have waited over four years because their court cases never move forward. He described terrible crowding issues that make life behind bars even worse.
MHRC Commissioner Tereza Ndanga runs the Civil and Political Rights Committee. She promised the commission would record every complaint. After hearing from everyone affected, her team plans to create solid suggestions for fixing the broken parts of the justice system.
Justice problems have existed in Malawi for many years. Packed prisons and endless waiting periods for trials happen everywhere in the country. Experts on law and human rights keep asking for big changes - like giving more money to courts and setting up mobile court services that can reach faraway villages.
The meetings aim to make sure regular citizens can speak up about these problems. The commission hopes their work leads to new rules that help all Malawians get fair and quick justice without spending their life savings.
Local leader Inkosi Kampingo Sibande talked about how hard the system hits poor people. He pointed to expensive lawyer fees, far-away courts, and cases that keep getting pushed back. These problems leave many accused persons stuck in jail for years without ever seeing trial day.
The head of Mzimba Prison, Thomas Dambe, said they currently hold 216 people waiting for trial. Among them sit 49 murder suspects - some have waited over four years because their court cases never move forward. He described terrible crowding issues that make life behind bars even worse.
MHRC Commissioner Tereza Ndanga runs the Civil and Political Rights Committee. She promised the commission would record every complaint. After hearing from everyone affected, her team plans to create solid suggestions for fixing the broken parts of the justice system.
Justice problems have existed in Malawi for many years. Packed prisons and endless waiting periods for trials happen everywhere in the country. Experts on law and human rights keep asking for big changes - like giving more money to courts and setting up mobile court services that can reach faraway villages.
The meetings aim to make sure regular citizens can speak up about these problems. The commission hopes their work leads to new rules that help all Malawians get fair and quick justice without spending their life savings.
