Private practice lawyer Alexious Kamangila has named 17 witnesses, including himself and Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda in the defamation case against High Court of Malawi Commercial Division Judge Kenan Manda.
In his trial checklist presented before High Court of Malawi Judge Howard Pemba during a scheduling conference held yesterday, Kamangila, who represented himself virtually, indicated that 15 of the other witnesses will have to be subpoenaed.
They include deputy Chief Justice Lovemore Chikopa, Malawi Law Society (MLS) president Davis Njobvu and his predecessor Patrick Mpaka, MLS chief executive officer Chrispin Ngunde, honorary secretary Francis M’mame and former honorary secretary Gabriel Chembezi who is now Anti-Corruption Bureau acting director general.
Others include Salima Sugar Company secretary Charles Thupi, Parliament’s legal affairs committee former chairperson Peter Dimba, Judicial Service Commission former chairperson Ireen Chikapa and private practice lawyers Wapona Kita and Edgar Kachere.
On the other hand, Manda who is being represented by Michael Goba Chipeta, only has himself as witness.
Deciding the way forward, Pemba said hearing of the case will happen for two days in May 2026 and asked Manda to file his wit
ness statement and skeleton arguments 21 days from the day of the scheduling conference.
He further said Kamangila should file his trial bundle 21 days immediately after the claimant’s filing, indicating that the court will thereafter sit for a pre-trial conference and subsequently decide on the actual dates for trial.
Said Pemba: “I have considered the number of witnesses that you have outlined. I think one day may not be enough. So, I have scheduled trial for two days in the month of May on days to be announced. “
Before the scheduling conference began, Chipeta raised concern that he was not aware that Kamangila would attend the hearing virtually, saying he would not have travelled to Lilongwe for the conference.
In response, Kamangila apologised to Chipeta for the inconvenience, but justified that he was overwhelmed as he is handling the matter on his own and, if permitted, he would have communicated in good time or availed himself for trial.
However, Chipeta prayed before the court that Kamangila’s checklist document should be declared invalid for delayed filing and subsequently strike out the defence in the matter.
After hearing arguments from both parties, Pemba then slapped Kamangila with costs incurred during the scheduling conference.
In the case, Manda sued Kamangila for defamation over the lawyer’s Facebook posts, accusing the judge of misconduct.
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