Absence of DPP denying justice to many

Trial of some criminal cases is disrupted following the suspension of the Director of Public Prosecutions–DPP Steven Kayuni.

President Lazarus Chakwera suspended the DPP over the controversial arrest of the Anti-Corruption Bureau-ACB Director Martha Chizuma, two weeks ago.

By law, the DPP gives consent for cases to be prosecuted and his absence means fresh ones have to be on the waiting list.

The DPP is mandated to timely and expeditiously investigate, prosecute criminal cases and to provide advisory legal services to the government.

The Malawi Law Society-MLS president Patrick Mpaka states that the current status means justice is being denied to the people.

According to Mpaka, the legal affairs committee of parliament has the power to make proper recommendations to the appointing authority.

Chairperson of the legal affairs committee of parliament Peter Dimba was not immediately available for a comment.