The National Assembly has unanimously confirmed Justice Rizine Robert Mzikamanda as the country’s Chief Justice. 

Mzikamanda replaces Andrew Nyirenda who retired as Chief Justice in December last year after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 65.

Commenting on the confirmation, Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo said Mzikamanda’s appointment will, among others, assist in expediting cases that have taken long before the country’s courts.

He said: “He is a man who pushes for efficiency, is a man who is very good at supervising work and obviously supporting his staff.”

“Chief Justice Mzikamanda is a very strict disciplinary man and with work you will not let anybody under him down.”

Whilst applauding Mzikamanda’s integrity, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has challenged the new Chief Justice to execute his duties professionally towards serving all Malawians.

“We expect him to rise above all odds so that he can deliver, he should take the judiciary out of the bondage that it has been over the past years,” said Yusuf Nthenda who speaks for the DPP on legal matter.

“We have a lot of cases that are still not completed after hearing that were done very long time ago.”

“We expect him to make sure that all those cases that are pending judgments actually delivered so that people may get the justice that they deserve.”

Until his confirmation, Mzikamanda was one of the Supreme Court of Appeal Judges and has worked with the Judiciary for the past 39 years.