Kasambara missing on list of accredited Malawi lawyers

Former justice minister and attorney general Ralph Kasambara, Senior Counsel,  is conspicuously missing from the list of lawyers that can present clients in courts of law this year.

No reason has been given on his name being omitted.

Kasambara, a prominent  private practise lawyer.  has always represented himself or others in a case in which him and others are accused in relation to the plundering of K30 billion of public money at Capital Hill in what is known as cashgate.

The chairman of Law Society of Malawi,  John Suzi Banda,  could not directly comment on Kasambara’s individual issue but said all those who are not on the list cannot represent clients in courts.

“Only those that appear on the list can appear before court and handle cases,” he said.

There were some concerns in some quarters when Kasambara, a suspect, represented himself in the cashgate case and in some instances represented his accused. Some legal minds suggested this was improper but the law is silent on the matter so the courts let him proceed representing him.

The Law Society of Malawi in conjunction with the ministry of Justice comes up with a list of lawyers every year that can represent lawyers.

Those involved in misbehavior such as embezzlement of clients money are struck off from the list.