Lawyers bill slash excites social media influencers
Social media influencers have welcomed the High Court decision to slash payment bills for opposition lawyers from K7 billion to K4 billion in the election case.
The lawyers had initially asked the court to order the state pay the lawyers K7 billion after the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) lost the case to UTM’s Saulos Chilima and Malawi Congress Party’s Lazarus Chakwera.
However, the figure raised a lot of eyebrows and some Malawians objected to the figure in various social media platforms which forced MEC to appeal against the order.
One of the social media influencers in the country Onjezani Kenani writes on his Facebook wall that he welcomes the reduction of the pay out to the Chilima and Chakwera lawyers.
“So, when we fought for the K7 billion to be scrutinized, we were told many things; oh you don’t know what you are talking about, oh if they go back to the court, the bill will in fact go up, oh the bill was scrutinized by the registrar and who are you to raise eyebrows…” he says.
Another influential social media activist Thandie wa Pulimuheya (Dr. Hara) says herself and other social media activists objected to the staggering K7 billion to make Malawi a better place.
“When we make noise here we know exactly what we are doing. We just want a better inclusive Malawi.
“This country has been bled by lawyers, politicians, crooked civil servants and phoney businessmen and women,” she says on her Facebook wall.
The lawyers have since welcomed the K4 billion court sanctioned bill.
K4 billion is still too much for them still,they have to be paid K2 billion, that’s fine.
Even 2 billion is too much I think 1 billion is enough
4 billion is way too much just like 7 billion was. Let’s not forget that the bills were inflated in order take advantage 9f taxpayers. K500m should be adequate for these good for nothing lawyers
Very good news! I completely objected to such a fee, without it being backed up by their costings reflecting time, cost, nature and complexity, reimbersable expenses, let alone pass the reasonableness test without such evidence. And in my argument, i settled on MK4billion as being reasonable. And its the exact figure which has been arrived at. You may still ask, can they provide evidence of this cost based on time spent (billable hours) per each lawyer who spent time on the case? Can they provide reimbersable expenses in relation to hotel bills, travelling expenses, stationery, etc etc….i doubt very much… Read more »
They wanted to steal ,they must be arrested and probed and they must pay with cost.Justise must not be selective..
What is Pro bono? This was said by lawyers who joined the election case.
We should not be surprised if leser beings carry on stealing government cash.
I smell a rat.
Pro bono means free, out of cost
And yet they are being paid
4 billion is too much. I protest
I second 4billion just paying out to few individuals this is carelessness.Milking a thinner cow.