Malawi's judges end car strike

The judges are now getting Nissan Terranos

Judges in Malawi have called off their first industrial action, after the government promised them a new fleet of four-wheel drive cars.

However, they are getting a cheaper model than the one they had demanded. The 26 high court and supreme court judges first wanted Mercedes or BMWs.

For four days, the judges have only heard serious cases such as murder.

They said they were inconvenienced by their 10-year-old saloon cars, which needed constant maintenance.

Cabinet cars

High court registrar Sylvester Kalembera told AFP news agency that the parties "reached an agreement after lengthy deliberation and the meeting resolved that we get four-wheel drive vehicles."

The judges had already dropped their initial demand for German vehicles and agreed to accept Toyota Prados at $80,000 each.

Mr Kalembera said they would now get Nissan Terranos, which cost about $60,000 each.

They originally wanted Mercedes or BMWs but settled for Toyota Prados

Former President Bakili Muluzi had originally promised to replace the cars before leaving office last year.

The attorney general said it was unfortunate the new President Bingu wa Mutharika was being punished for Mr Muluzi's unkept pledge.

According to the BBC's Raphael Tenthani in Blantyre, most of the judges were present in the court building but spent most of the day reading newspapers in their chambers.

One member of the judiciary said that when a new cabinet is appointed, a fleet of expensive cars is procured for them almost immediately.

"But most of us judges have had our official Toyota Corollas for more than 10 years."