Around 80 former employees of the Malawi Enterprise Development Fund (MEDF) are demanding a staggering K20 billion in damages after a court found they were unfairly dismissed – in a ruling watchdogs warn could leave ordinary Malawian taxpayers footing the bill. Lawyer for the 80 former staff, Wanangwa Munkhondia, said the court was now hearing assessment of damages proceedings, with evidence being considered from each former employee individually, given that all are applicants in their own right. ‘There were 55 applicants at the time of commencement of the action and an additional 27 were added to the case before delivery of judgment. MEDF’s lawyer, Alfred Lungu, confirmed the fund intends to appeal the liability ruling, branding the compensation demand as wildly excessive given the employment status of those involved. ‘Unlawful political decisions are never free,’ Kambwandira warned, ‘but are an invoiced letter to the taxpayer.’