APM confers SC honours to 10 legal practitioners

President Aurther Peter Mutharika on Tuesday conferred honour of Senior Counsel  (SC) to 10 seasoned legal practitioners among them, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Samuel Batson Tembenu, Attorney General (AG), Kalekeni Kaphale, and Solicitor General, Dr. Janet Banda.

The other renowned legal practitioners included Justice Anaclet Chawinga Chipeta, Justice Lovemore Paul Chikopa, Justice Frank Edgar Kapanda, Justice Dustan Fipamtima Mwabungulu, Allan Jonathan William Chinula, Mayor Chisanga, and Patrice Chikumbutso Nkhono.

In his key note address after the conferment, President Mutharika congratulated the 10 legal practitioners for achieving the status of Senior Counsel and challenged them to be role models to the new generation of professionals in the field.

“Congratulations for making it to the inner bar,” said Mutharika. “This [honour of Senior Counsel] comes with responsibility: promote and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi.”

“As a President with a legal background, I consider the role of Senior Counsel in a legal system such as that of Malawi significant. It is not only the quality mark recognized internationally, but also a way to encourage young lawyers to maintain high standards of their work.

“Therefore, I am confident that they will rise to the challenges and diligently serve the people.”

The President observed that it was the first time in the history of the country to have 10 legal practitioners conferred with honours of Senior Counsel at a goal adding that the last time a similar exercise was conducted was in 2008 where only 6 practitioners were conferred with the honors.

He further challenged female practitioners in the field to strive in achieving excellence so as to deserve the honour of Senior Council as Solicitor General, Dr. Janet Banda SC, the only female legal practitioner among the 10, had done.