Court ‘not ready’ with ruling on DPP role

The High Court of Malawi, in Lilongwe, has postponed its decision regarding the constitutional challenge to the appointment of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Fostino Maele, as the court has indicated that the judgment is not yet ready.

Judge Anneline Kanthambi was expected to announce the verdict today; however, the court notified the involved parties that the ruling remains outstanding.Senior Counsel Kamudoni Nyasulu, the applicant in this case, confirmed tstating that a new date will be established once the judgment is completed.

“The court has informed us that the ruling is not ready today. Once it is prepared, a new date will be set and communicated to us,” Nyasulu remarked.

The court was anticipated to decide on whether to approve an application to refer the case to Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda for certification as a constitutional matter, which would necessitate a panel of at least three judges to hear it.

Additionally, Judge Kanthambi was to rule on Nyasulu’s request for a stay of proceedings in Judicial Review Case Number 1 of 2026.In this judicial review, the experienced prosecutor is contesting the constitutionality of Maele’s appointment in November 2025, along with his subsequent decisions to terminate several legal cases.