Masisi breaks tradition in appointment of CJ
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Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP) Carter Morupisi says that has confirmed the appointment of Justice Terence Rannowane as the Chief Justice.
Yesterday, President Mokgweetsi Masisi appointed Justice Terence Rannowane the new Chief Justice (CJ), a nephew to the outgoing Chief Justice Maruping Dibotelo. Dibotelo is retiring from the office at the end of this month (April 2018).
Morupisi confirmed that Judge Dibotelo and Judge Rannowane are both from Thamaga village, and judge Dibotelo is judge Rannowane’s uncle.
The PSP said people should not read much into the relations of the two justices. In an interview Morupisi told this publication that, “It doesn’t matter at all. It is nothing. It has got no base,” he said, adding that, they cannot deny someone the opportunity because he is from the same village and or related to his predecessor.
“We look at the objectives: qualifications, length of service, integrity etc….Former CJ does not play a part in the appointment.” Quizzed whether the Office of the President (OP) knew the two were relatives at the time of the appointment, Morupisi’s response was that, “It is obvious, Akere they are from the same village.”
Judge Rannowane was appointed as a judge of the High Court in 2008. He has 28 years of experience service in the judiciary and has been assigned different roles amongst which he chaired the Delimitation Commission in 2012. Justice Rannowane also serves as chairman of the National Parole Board. He holds a Law Degree (LLB) from the University of Botswana obtained in 1990 and a Master of Laws Degree (LLM) from the University of Warwick from the United Kingdom obtained in 2003.
The general practice on the appointment of the Chief Justice has been such that the most senior Judge takes the position. However Rannowane’s appointment breaks this tradition because Justices Makhwade, Tafa, and Letsididi are senior to him. Justice Makhwade was recently appointed to the Court of Appeal recently through Justice Dibotelo’s recommendation.
Meanwhile, Justice Rannowane has a pending case before the court in which has dragged government to court over an audit report suggesting that he drew housing allowance he was not entitled to. His contention was that the audit report be set aside because he insists that he does not owe the Administration of Justice, saying he was entitled to the allowances they received.
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Malawi appeals for help over Cyclone Freddy at PAP
As of yesterday evening, the death toll from the Cyclone in Malawi had risen from the initially reported 190 to 225 in a short period of time, over 20 000 people have been displaced, and the worst of fears are yet to come as the fatalities continue to mount. This was reported by a Malawi Member of Parliament attending the Pan African Parliament session in Midrand, South Africa, Hon Steven Mikiya.
Mikiya was giving a statement on behalf of Malawi as the ongoing Pan African Parliament in South Africa.
Mikiya said the Cyclone has wreaked the most havoc in our country’s Southern Region. “The Southern Region, has been hardest hit with widespread heavy rains and strong winds. This caused a rapid rise in water levels and subsequent flooding. Meanwhile, power supply has been disrupted, roads blocked off and rendered impassable and mudslides have also been widely reported,” he said.
He made a special appeal to the PAP: “Where I come from, there is a parable which I would like to share with you which says, “mzako weniweni umamudziwa panthawi ya mavuto.” Simply put, a friend in need is a friend indeed or put loosely, a person who helps at a difficult time is a friend you can rely on.”
Mikiya continued: “Yes! Misfortune has knocked on our door and left in its wake a trail of death and destruction that may take years to fully recover from. However, amidst these difficulties, I have every reason to believe that sometimes when you are in a dark place and think you have been buried, you have actually been planted. My belief, Mr. President, arises out of my faith in this gathering and out of the conviction that it is not coincidental that Cyclone Freddy hit Malawi and Mozambique while the delegations of both countries are here.”
According to Mikiya, the level of destruction, the loss of life, property and the decimation of the entire fabric of established communities has been unprecedented. He noted that all this, is coming at a time when Malawi was starting to show signs of recovery from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that also came hard on the heels of Cyclone Ana and Cyclone Gombe that left a similar trail of devastation and destruction in Malawi and neighbouring countries.
As of Sunday, this week, from the 12th of March, Malawi and Mozambique have been facing the devastating effects of Cyclone Freddy that made a landfall over Mozambique on Saturday the 11th and reached Malawi by Sunday the 12th of March.
The Malawi legislator said he has absolute faith in the Pan African Parliament, which he described as “a league of nations brought together by a shared ancestry, history, identity as well as our beloved continent which we inhabit”.
Meanwhile, Malawi President, Lazarus Chakwera, has declared a State of Disaster in the affected areas effectively appealing for local and international support for the affected families.
Mikiya appealed to the Pan African Parliament drawing “positive” inspiration from Europe which rallied around Turkey after the destructive earthquakes to bring the much-needed relief and humanitarian aid to the people of Turkey.
He said Africa should demonstrate to the world that the African Union and its Organs are not mere talk shows, but effective institutions which stand up when it matters most.
“Alone, it may take us a lifetime to fully recover, but together, in the Pan-Africanist spirit of Ubuntu, our lives and livelihoods will return to a semblance of normality in record time. This is the time to live by our operative mantra, “One Africa, One Voice.” Mikiya concluded.