JB appoints Anastasia Msosa first woman Malawi Chief Justice
President Joyce Banda has appointed Supreme Court judge and former chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) Justice Anastazia Msosa as Chief Justice, Parliament was informed on Thursday.
Speaker of Parliament Henry Chimunthu Banda informed the House that President Banda has appointed Msosa as ‘Chief Justice ZA’ and that the House, which is currently sitting in the capital Lilongwe, will debate Justice Msosa’s appointment during its deliberations on Friday.
The position of Chief Justice fell vacant the early retirement of former Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo to compete for the presidency of opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP)..
Section 111 (1) of the Constitution says the Chief Justice shall be appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly..
Msosa went back to the Malawi Electoral Commission to head the organisation for the 2009 polls before she was replaced last year by high court judge Maxon Mbendera.
She is likely to be confirmed as chief justice by lawmaker, the first time the position will be occupied by a woman.
Fast Facts
Msosa was the first woman to be appointed judge of the High Court of Malawi and to be a member of the Supreme Court.
She was the first chairperson of the Electoral Commission after Malawi became a multiparty democracy and she is accredited for overseeing the successful 1994 election and performed with distinction when she ably led the team that handled the 2009 elections – the best organised elections since 1994.
Her name appears again in the list of 20 pioneer achievers at the end of History of Malawi Volume 2.
