Constitution of the Republic of Malawi 1994, as amended to 2020
Limitations and/or Derogations
  • English
    1. This Constitution is founded upon the following underlying principles—

    e. as all persons have equal status before the law, the only justifiable limitations to lawful rights are those necessary to ensure peaceful human interaction in an open and democratic society;
    … (Sec. 12)
Limitations and/or Derogations
  • English
    1. No restrictions or limitations may be placed on the exercise of any rights and freedoms provided for in this Constitution other than those prescribed by law, which are reasonable, recognized by international human rights standards and necessary in an open and democratic society.
    2. Laws prescribing restrictions or limitations shall not negate the essential content of the right or freedom in question, and shall be of general application.
    3. Expropriation of property shall be permissible only when done for public utility and only when there has been adequate notification and appropriate compensation, provided that there shall always be a right to appeal to a court of law.
    4. Wherever it is stated in this Constitution that a person has the right to the services of a legal practitioner or medical practitioner of his or her own choice, that right shall be without limitation, save where the State is obliged to provide such services of a legal practitioner or medical practitioner, in which case an Act of Parliament may prescribe that the choice of the legal practitioner or medical practitioner should be limited to those in Government service or employment. (Sec. 44)
Limitations and/or Derogations
  • English
    1. No derogation from rights contained in this Chapter8 shall be permissible save to the extent provided for by this section and no such derogation shall be made unless there has been a declaration of a state of emergency within the meaning of this section.
    2. There shall be no derogation with regard to—
    a. the right to life;
    b. the prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
    c. the prohibition of genocide;
    d. the prohibition of slavery, the slave trade and slave-like practices;
    e. the prohibition of imprisonment for failure to meet contractual obligations;
    f. the prohibition on retrospective criminalization and the retrospective imposition of greater penalties for criminal acts;
    g. the right to equality and recognition before the law;
    h. the right to freedom of conscience, belief, thought and religion and to academic freedom; or
    i. the right to habeas corpus.

    4. Derogation from the rights contained in this Chapter, other than the rights listed in subsection (2), shall be permissible during a state of emergency within the meaning of this section and to the extent that—
    a. such derogation is consistent with the obligations of Malawi under international law; and
    b. in the case of—
    i. war or threat of war, it is strictly required to prevent the lives of defensive combatants and civilians as well as legitimate military objectives from being placed in direct jeopardy; or
    ii. a widespread natural disaster, it is strictly required for the protection and relief of those people and facilities whether in or outside the disaster area.
    … (Sec. 45)
Limitations and/or Derogations
  • English
    1. Save in so far as it may be authorized to do so by this Constitution, the National Assembly or any subordinate legislative authority shall not make any law, and the executive and the agencies of Government shall not take any action, which abolishes or abridges the rights and freedoms enshrined in this Chapter, and any law or action in contravention thereof shall, to the extent of the contravention, be invalid.
    … (Sec. 46)
Limitations and/or Derogations
  • English

    2. Notwithstanding subsection (1), Parliament shall not have the power to delegate any legislative powers which would substantially and significantly affect the fundamental rights and freedoms recognized by this Constitution. (Sec. 58)
Links to all sites last visited 8 November 2023
2
Chapter III on Fundamental Principles; Chapter IV on Human Rights.
3
Chapter IV on Human Rights.
4
Chapter IV on Human Rights.
5
Chapter III on Fundamental Principles; Chapter IV on Human Rights.
6
Chapter IV on Human Rights.
7
Chapter IV on Human Rights.
8
Chapter IV on Human Rights.
9
Chapter III on Fundamental Principles; Chapter IV on Human Rights.
10
Chapter IV on Human Rights.