Malawi wins African Court case against Tsaperas
The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights dismissed a K233 billion compensation claim against Malawi.
Malawi has won a significant legal battle at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, with the court throwing out a K233 billion (US$133.7 million) compensation claim against the country. Attorney General Frank Mbeta confirmed the victory in Arusha, Tanzania, following the ruling.
The case involved South African businessman Patroklos Tsaperas and stemmed from the collapse of a telecommunications deal with Malawi Mobile Limited (MML), a company in which Tsaperas is a shareholder. MML was granted a mobile phone licence in 2002 but failed to launch services within 12 months, leading regulators to revoke the licence in 2005.
Malawi’s High Court had previously awarded MML US$66.85 million in damages in 2012. This latest ruling spares Malawian taxpayers from a potentially massive financial payout after more than two decades of legal proceedings.
Why it mattersMalawian taxpayers are spared a K233 billion payout following the African Court's ruling.