More African judges are standing up to governments

MALAWI’S CHIEF JUSTICE, Andrew Nyirenda, is an industrious chap. Since donning the wig 26 years ago he has racked up 572 days of untaken leave, or so says the office of Peter Mutharika, Malawi’s president. Last week it ordered Mr Nyirenda (above left) to go on holiday immediately. Since the chief justice would reach retirement age before the end of his break, it also said he should step down forthwith.Mr Nyirenda presides over Malawi’s Supreme Court, which in May upheld a ruling annulling the president’s re-election last year after a lower court found correction fluid had been used to alter the tallies. He will also be the ultimate arbiter of the re-run that took place on June 23rd. Mark Botomani, the information minister, insists these are coincidental: the government merely wants to give Mr Nyirenda enough time to relax and “write his biography”.