3 lawyers cleared, 2 await fate
Three private practice lawyers Ritchie Katsichi, Mustafa Amidu and Davie Lameck can now breathe a sigh of relief after Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda yesterday discharged their cases bordering on professional conduct.
The trio was among six lawyers dragged to court by their respective clients and Malawi Law Society (MSL) who asked Mzikamanda to strike them off the country’s legal practitioners’ roll for allegedly embezzling money.
But appearing before Mzikamanda in Blantyre on Monday, Samuel Waliyala, who lodged a complaint against Katsichi, said they had agreed on an out-of-court settlement.
During the hearing, MLS executive director Chrispin Ngunde also notified the court that Amidu and his client, Alex Nyirenda, also agreed on an out-of-court settlement.
Katsichi and Amidu were initially accused of embezzling about K6.4 million and K2.5 million respectively meant for their clients.
Delivering the ruling on Monday, Mzikamanda dismissed Katsichi and Amidu’s cases.
He also dismissed Lameck’s case after the claimant, Chipaso Nkhonjera, failed to turn up for the hearing.
“If the complainant still thinks we can proceed with the matter, he can do so within 30 days from today,” said Mzikamanda.
Meanwhile, the Chief Justice has reserved his verdict on the matters involving two other private practice lawyers; namely, Chikumbutso Mkwamba and Julius Nyambo to a date to be announced.
On the other hand, the matter against lawyer Chrispin Kammayani has been adjourned to August 6 2024 after he asked the court for more time to go through the documents.
In an interview, State lawyer Chrispin Khunga from the Attorney General’s chamber said the complaints against lawyers were an indication that Malawians now know their rights.
However, he said his office cannot do anything on the matters that have been withdrawn by the Chief Justice.
Said Khunga: “This is a welcome development that we see these cases being taken before the Chief Justice and the High Court. This will bring sanity in the profession as such cases are happening often, it erodes the profession and people lose trust.”
The matters come at a time MLS suspended and fined two lawyers, Cynthia Chawani and Oswald Mtupila, in January this year.
