The High Court in Lilongwe on Monday, 7th October 2024, could not commence the case hearing involving the appointment of Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Henry Kachaje.

The delay is due to the case file not yet being returned from the Supreme Court of Appeal.

The High Court Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda has directed that a temporary file be opened to facilitate progress.

The Lawyer representing Mera, Wapona Kita confirmed the development adding that the court has requested both the Office of the Ombudsman and Mera to resubmit all relevant documents.

Spokesperson for the Office of the Ombudsman, Mandy Pondani said: “The matter has been adjourned to 25th October 2024 to allow the Court time to transfer the case file from the Supreme Court in Blantyre to the Lilongwe Registry.”

Mera board obtained the injunction on November 10, 2021 that restrained the Ombudsman’s office from releasing the investigative report that nullified Kachaje’s appointment as the regulatory body’s chief executive officer.

In May last year, a nine-judge panel of the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal sitting in Lilongwe said it agreed with arguments advanced by Mera that the Office of the Ombudsman’s application was premature as the High Court of Malawi was yet to hear the full matter following the injunction.

Source: Nation Publications Limited