Malawi appoints first female head prosecutor
By Emmanuel Muwamba – Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika has appointed Chief State Advocate Rosemary Kanyuka as new Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) becoming the first female to head the prosecution team in Malawi.
Her appointment makes it the third DPP in the Mutharika administration since 2004.
Solicitor General Anthony Kamanga told the press that Kanyuka has been appointed to head the State prosecution team but she will wait for the confirmation by Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Parliament.
Kanyuka refused to comment on her appointment. Kamanga said Kanyuka’s appointment is with effect from December 22.
Kanyuka replaces former DPP Wezzie Kayira who was recently assigned to the Ministry of Labour as Principal Secretary.
Kayira was confirmed by PAC on December 6 2006.
Kayira replaced Wadi. After Wadi’s resignation, Mutharika nominated David Nyamirandu to be the country’s top prosecutor but he was rejected by Public Appointments Committee of Parliament because he holds an Australian citizenship and was not willing to renounce it.
The President appointed Ishmael Wadi in 2004 after firing Fahad Assani. Assani served in the Bakili Muluzi administration.
Wadi resigned after President Mutharika demanded his resignation following a withdrawal of corruption charges against former president Muluzi.
