Malawi Judiciary warned of corruption: Face disciplinary action

Malawi’s Chief Justice Anastasia Msosa warned the country’s Judiciary to desist from acts of corruption for the public to have trust and confidence in the legal profession and system.

Chief Justice Msosa warned the Judiciary during the annual sherry party held  on the grounds of the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal and High Court of Malawi to mark the start of a new court session in the judicial calendar.

“We have heard of stories of perceived corruption in the legal profession mainly from the media. It is such perceptions of corruption that will make the public lose trust and confidence in the legal profession and system,” Chief Justice Msosa said.

She appealed to Law Society of Malawi and Attorney General Kalekeni Kaphale to ensure that the profession is corrupt-free.

“I do not believe that stiff competition for business existing in the legal profession should be recipe for corruption. Let me call upon the Honourable Attorney General and the Malawi Law Society to put together their concerted efforts in making sure that we have a legal profession free from corruption,” she said.

She said the Malawi Law Society should put in place punitive measures to all those who will not behave in an appropriate manner.

“I call upon the Attorney General and the Malawi Law Society to make sure that disciplinary action is taken against those lawyers who professionally misconduct themselves,” she said.

“On our part, I promise that you a Judiciary, we shall also strive to have a corruption-free institution that earns the trust, respect and confidence of the public, ” she said.

She disclosed that an integrity committee was set up in the Judiciary to work hand in hand with the Anti-Corruption Bureau to ensure that a corrupt-free environment.

Cases of highly connected lawyers conniving with judges in what is termed ‘judges shopping’ have been rampart in Malawi with some lawyers opting to have their cases handled by certain judges.

Attorney General  Kaphale urged members of the Judiciary to desist from corruption and corrupt activities, saying any member of the jury who will be caught in corrupt practices will face the long arm of the law.

The Sherry Party was also marked by the Chief Justice’s inspection of a guard of honour parade mounted Malawi Police Service B company.