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Thread ID: 20794 | Posts: 3 | Started: 2005-10-28
2005-10-28 19:43 | User Profile
[I]What does that say about Malawi's "economy?" Even many "WaBenzi" can't afford Benzes anymore! [/I]
Malawi judges strike for big cars
[SIZE=2] <!-- S BO --> <!-- S IIMA --> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="203"> <tbody><tr><td> [IMG]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40745000/jpg/_40745215_prado203ok.jpg[/IMG] The judges originally wanted Mercedes or BMWs but settled for Toyota Prados
</td></tr> </tbody></table> <!-- E IIMA --> [B]Judges in Malawi are holding their first industrial action, demanding a new fleet of four-wheel drive cars.
[/B] [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]They say they are conducting a go-slow until the government agrees to replace 26 old cars - a promise made by former President Bakili Muluzi. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]The attorney general said it was unfortunate the new president was being punished for Mr Muluzi's unkept pledge. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]But he said the government was working hard to meet the judges demands. Five Toyota Prados were now on order. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]"It's unfortunate that President Bingu wa Mutharika's administration is being punished for unfulfilled promises of the Muluzi administration," Attorney General Ralph Kasambara told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
[/SIZE][SIZE=2]But High Court Registrar Sylvester Kalembera said the judges decided to take the unprecedented move because most of the judges' cars are rickety and need constant attention, thereby inconveniencing them. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2][B]State-of-the-art [/B][/SIZE] [SIZE=2]Despite repeated reminders to the ministry of justice, no cars had been forthcoming, the judges said.
[/SIZE][SIZE=2]The go-slow, which began on Thursday, will continue until their demands are met, they say. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]Only the most important cases relating to serious crimes are being heard.
[/SIZE] [SIZE=2]
| [IMG]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif[/IMG] | [IMG]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/start_quote_rb.gif[/IMG] [B] Most of us judges have had our official Toyota Corollas for more than 10 years [/B] [IMG]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/end_quote_rb.gif[/IMG]
Blantyre, most of the judges were present in the court building on Thursday but and spent most of the day reading newspapers in their chambers. [/SIZE][SIZE=2] One member of the judiciary said that when a new cabinet is appointed, a fleet of expensive cars is procured for them almost immediately. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]"But most of us judges have had our official Toyota Corollas for more than 10 years." [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]Mr Kalembera said the judges had originally demanded Mercedes Benz cars or BMWs, but the government told them those brands were too expensive. [/SIZE][SIZE=2]The judges settled for state-of-the-art but less-expensive Toyota Prados, our correspondent says. [/SIZE] [SIZE=2]"I am meeting the attorney general on Monday in Lilongwe to find a solution to the crisis," Mr Kalembera said. [URL="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4194325.stm"]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4194325.stm[/URL] [/SIZE] BlueBonnet2005-10-29 17:19 | User Profile :pimp: Angeleyes2005-10-29 20:22 | User Profile [quote=Hamilton][I]What does that say about Malawi's "economy?" Even many "WaBenzi" can't afford Benzes anymore! [/I] Malawi judges strike for big cars [SIZE=2]
[URL="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4194325.stm"]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4194325.stm[/URL] [/SIZE] My, how easily the word crisis tumbles off of the lips of a government official. Everything is a crisis, I guess, to include the mundane function of upgrading the official car fleet. These folks have learned well what the bureaucrats of Europe and America have taught them. AE |