The High Court has reaffirmed that it is strictly adhering to established legal procedures before delivering its ruling on whether to grant bail to Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Secretary General, Richard Chimwendo Banda, who is facing an attempted murder charge.
Judiciary spokesperson Ruth Mputeni said the court has not deviated from standard practice in handling the matter, emphasizing that due process must be fully observed before any determination is made.
“The court is simply following standard procedures before issuing its decision. The Judiciary remains committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring fairness to all parties involved, regardless of an individual’s status or the level of public interest surrounding the case,” said Mputeni.
The bail application was heard by High Court Judge Mzonde Mvula, who informed both the prosecution and the defence that the ruling would be communicated via email once it is finalized. However, the judge did not specify a date for the delivery of the decision.
According to the Judiciary, the delay should not be interpreted as reluctance or bias, but rather as part of the court’s obligation to carefully assess the legal arguments presented before reaching a conclusion.
The High Court reiterated that decisions of this nature must be guided strictly by the law, not by public opinion or political pressure.
“Despite the heightened public interest, the Judiciary maintains that all cases are treated equally before the law,” Mputeni added.
Until the ruling is delivered, Richard Chimwendo Banda will remain in custody as the court finalizes its decision on the bail application.
