The State has successfully challenged legal costs that the High Court of Malawi awarded the Women Lawyers Association (WLA) who successfully prosecuted the Msundwe sexual harassment case.
In August last year, the High Court awarded WLA with K255 million in legal costs after the association represented 18 Msundwe women.
However, government filed an application to review the legal costs saying they were unusual and unjustified since WLA prosecuted the case on pro bono basis.
In his ruling on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda revised the costs from K255, 684,112.00 to K70, 895,618.21.
Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda said he is satisfied with the ruling “as taxpayers money has been saved”.
The violence at Msundwe, Mpingu and Mbwatalika trading centres in Lilongwe City followed protests that ensued post-May 21 2019 presidential election.
Police allegedly went on the rampage in the areas following the stoning of their colleague Suwedi Iman, by residents during protests.
