Malawi’s Justice Minister Charles Mhango has blasted the shocking state of court facilities in Thyolo, describing deteriorating buildings and non-functioning courts as a major obstacle to justice.
After touring Thyolo District Court on Thursday, Mhango painted a grim picture of ageing infrastructure, rundown offices and sanitation facilities he said were virtually unusable.
“The building and the structures are extremely old,” he said. “One of the offices which I visited is in a very sad state, to say the least, and sanitary facilities for court users are something that you don’t even want to enter to ease yourself.”
The minister warned that access to justice is suffering across the district, with only three of Thyolo’s five magistrates’ courts currently operating.
Thekerani Magistrate’s Court has suspended operations following disagreements between the judiciary and the local community, forcing the magistrate to relocate to Thyolo Boma. Between seven and eight rural Traditional Authority courts are also lying dormant.
The closures mean many residents must travel long distances and face significant difficulties to access legal services.
Mhango said he would engage the Chief Justice, Chief Registrar and officials from his ministry to secure resources for urgent rehabilitation works.
Thyolo District Commissioner Noel Dakamau acknowledged the challenges, saying many court buildings require maintenance, expansion or complete replacement.
He said the district council plans to include judicial infrastructure projects in its 2027/28 Annual Investment Plan and will lobby local MPs to channel Constituency Development Fund resources towards court rehabilitation.
“We will ensure issues related to judicial services are included alongside agriculture and health in our development planning,” said Dakamau.
The council also plans to invite judicial officers to present their challenges at the next full council meeting as authorities seek solutions to a justice system increasingly strained by ageing and inadequate infrastructure.
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