Lawyer Chalamanda to stand as councillor in Blantyre City
One of prominent private practice lawyers in Malawi, Noel Chalamdanda has disclosed that he will run as a councillor for Blantyre City Central Ward Councilor on an independent ticket.
Speaking when he announced his candidature in Blantyre, Chalamanda said he decided to stand as councillor on an independent ticket because “I want all of us to work together.”
He justified his choice of running in Blantyre city central ward, saying he is “born and bred in Blantyre, lives in and for Blantyre, itching to roll up my sleeves and break my back for this great city.”
“I have walked and driven almost every street of Blantyre. I have played on many playgrounds, gotten my education from a number of its schools, visited many shops, prayed in many churches and hang out with many a friend in countless joints, “said Chalamanda.
“I have worked in a number of law firms in the city and finally opened my own law practice in the city because I believe in the spirit of Blantyre. I have interacted with people from all walks of life in Blantyre,” he added.
“Like the back of my hand, I have grown to know Blantyre. I love this city and want to serve it, and dare I say save it too from the current downward deterioration in a number of areas,” said the lawyer.
Chalamanda said he has had a fair share of international travels which have been an immense eye opener where he has cities younger than Blantyre growing, thriving and prospering faster than Malawi’s commercial city in areas of health, education, business, infrastructure, water and sanitation, town planning, security, leisure and many others.
The lawyer said he is driven by the burning urge of “we deserve better” and seething rage at the current state of Blantyre city that he wants to help develop the city as a ward councilor
“Hand over heart, I am in it to transform the real life through actual work in the community. I intend to be here on the ground with everyone who is angry at this sorry state of Blantyre and is ready to put on his/her gumboots and overalls and is ready to get soiled for the sake of Blantyre.
“I am in it because I believe Blantyre has the potential, the beauty and the people to become the one of the best cities in Africa.”
He added: “ Together, With a safer Blantyre, we shall create opportunities for businesses, increase the number of business hours thereby creating more income for so many more of us. Together we shall work on the infrastructure and fix the bridges, create more parking space, fix the road and pavements, city halls, theatres, recreation places and amusement parks.”
Chalamanda promised that if voted he will deliver on his promise for “ a new brand of life to Blantyre “.
Fact File
Chalamanda is a lawyer of 13 years at the Malawi bar. He is a co-founder of Knight & Knight where he is a Partner. He boasts of tremendous experience criminal and civil litigation, human rights law and litigation and commercial transactions
He previously worked for Sacranie Gow & Co and Lawson and Co.
Chalamanda was attached to the London Firm of Doughty Street Chambers where he worked with a number Queens Counsel in a number of cases in various courts in England.
Presently he is a member of a special commission on sentencing in criminal matters at the Malawi Law Commission. He serves as Malawi Law Society’s Representative on the Board of the Media Council of Malawi. He is o board of a number of non-governmental organisations and companies.
Previously he has served the Vice President of the Malawi Law Society for two terms.
For charity he has worked on part time and pro bono basis, for Civil Liberties Committee (CILIC) where he helped the poor with deserving cases get legal reliefs of various natures. At CILIC he served as President of the Lawyers Chapter for two terms.
He was Member of the Board of Trustees for the Center for Legal Assistance (CELA) where he also served the poor seeking justice or legal reliefs on pro bono basis.
Chalamanda has handled a number of high profile cases that have had a significant impact on the legal jurisprudence in Malawi including cases on the abolition of the mandatory death penalty, the right to hold demonstrations case, labour rights and retrenchment.
He has Masters in International Human Rights Law from Strathclyde University. And a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Malawi. He attended Pius XII Seminary for secondary school and proceeded to Kachebere Major Seminary for Post Secondary School education in liberal arts.
Chalamanda was the first recipient of the Umunthu Award by the Diversity Leader National Awards in 2006 for his outstanding acts of courage and compassion when he came to the rescue of a person attacked by robbers and a person at a point of death in a car accident.
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