The Nkukula Magistrate’s Court has today dismissed an application to stay proceedings in a case in which activist Slyvester Namiwa and 11 other members of Centre for Democratic and Economic Development Initiative (Cdedi) are answering charges of staging a protest in Lilongwe without permission. 

The court observed that the application was premature and lacked merit as an application by the defence team to stay the proceedings at the High Court is yet to be heard.

The court has also transferred the case from Nkukula Magistrate’s Court in Dowa to Lilongwe. 
In its submission the defence had pleaded with the court not to transfer the case.

Senior Resident Magistrate Cecilia Onsewa who was presiding over the case was recently transffered to Industrial Relations Court (IRC) as assitant registrar .

The Chief Resident Magistrate is expected to reallocate the case to a new magistrate in the next seven days before hearing of the matter commences.