The intention by the Malawi Government to increase the retirement age for judges from 65 to 70 has brought mixed reactions among various sectors in the country with some rebuffing it.

The proposal is contained in the Courts Act Amendment Bill which also seeks to create a special Financial Crimes Court and phase off the 4th grade magistrate courts.

Whilst the Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda is defending the move saying being a judge requires wisdom which comes with age, legal scholar Professor Danwood Chirwa through his Facebook page is against it saying it will fuel corruption.

Chirwa says retirement is one way of getting rid of corrupt judges out of the system as disciplinary measures are hardly used as such reducing the retirement age would be more ideal than increasing it.

However, Center for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) Executive Director, Micheal Kaiyatsa said there is need to critically look into the matter before assenting to the bills as the move has both positive and negative impact on the country’s judicial system.