APM counsels newly honoured senior lawyers
President Peter Mutharika yesterday advised judges and lawyers recently conferred with the honour of Senior Counsel (SC) to uphold ethics, objectivity and decorum as they go about their work.
“You have a new role to play, that of role modelling for your noble profession, with ethics as the main focus,” the President stressed at the conferment ceremony at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
The 10 include Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu, Attorney General Kalekeni Kaphale and the sole lady in the team, Janet Banda (PhD), who is also Solicitor General and principal secretary for the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
The others are Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal judges Anaclet Chipeta, Lovemore Chikopa, Frank Kapanda and Dustan Mwaungulu as well as private practice lawyers Allan Chinula, Meyer Chisanga and Patrice Nkhono.
“Ethics come with experience and are linked with the lawyer’s ability to maintain a sense of objectivity, proportion and decorum even in situations of stress.
“Ethics also come with professional exposure and self-development and a sustained search for excellence,” stated Mutharika, himself a lawyer.
He hoped that the SCs would meet the high expectations in serving ordinary Malawians and inspiring young lawyers.
He expressed dismay that only one woman was among the people honoured, but he, however, noted that some female lawyers who may have also qualified had not put in applications for consideration despite several advertisements for such applications.
Earlier, Tembenu thanked the President for conferring the recipients the top legal honour and he promised that they will work hard in serving the nation.
