Committee meets over AG’s honour
The Honours Committee responsible for recommending who should be conferred the title Senior Counsel (SC) met in Lilongwe last night after a verbal exchange between Malawi Law Society (MLS) and Attorney General (AG) Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda.
Nyirenda said on Sunday evening that he expressed disappointment with a letter from MLS questioning his appointment by President Lazarus Chakwera as SC.
MLS had queried his inclusion and that of others and has since sought clarification from the Ministry of Justice on the position of the law.
But in a detailed response, the AG said he felt the MLS was misguided on his conferment and sought immediate apology from the lawyers’ body.
He said: “The MLS on 24th August, 2024 wrote Solicitor General and Secretary for Justice Allison M’bang’ombe questioning the basis of the Attorney General’s appointment, saying he had not yet served for 15 years at the time he was applying for the position.
“It is baffling to note that MLS is stabbing itself in its own back as the body is mandated by law to make recommendations through Honours Committee and the President Mr. Patrick Mpaka was part of the committee that approved the name of Thabo Chakaka- Nyirenda.”
Under Section 52(2) (b), one must serve for a minimum of 15 years before being accorded the SC status and Nyirenda argues that he started practising in 2006, although at that time, he had not been admitted to the bar.
MLS honorary secretary Gabriel Chembezi said it would be inappropriate to respond to Nyirenda as the committee met last evening.
He said: “The committee that is responsible for making recommendations on conferment of the honour of Senior Counsel is currently meeting in Lilongwe to discuss the matter, following the Society’s letter of 24th August 2024.
“ It is , there fore , inappropriate at this juncture to respond to the Honourable Attorney General’s remarks as we believe the issues we raised will best be dealt with through formal engagement, and today’s meeting provides such opportunity.”
Section 52 of the Legal Education and Legal Practitioners Act (2018) allows the President to confer on a legal practitioner the honour of SC on recommendation of the committee.
The committee, under MLS, has the following composition; (a). The Chief Justice, who shall be the chairperson; (b). The AG; (c) The Solicitor General, who shall be the secretary; (d). Two SCs nominated by the society; (e). The chairperson of the society; and (j). A dean of of law at an accredited university and appointed by the council.
