Students from the Faculty of Law at the Catholic University of Malawi (Cunima) have been challenged to assist prisoners who cannot afford legal representation.
During a Moot Court Competition training organised for students on Wednesday, the university’s director of academics and quality assurance Rev. Fr. Dr. Wilfred Sumani urged the students to restore hope for those incarcerated without means to secure legal assistance.
“Last year, I was in Balaka with our late vice-chancellor Associate Professor Ngeyi Kanyongolo. She shared a story about how she, along with her students, helped prisoners regain their freedom,” he recalled.
“This year, the church is commemorating a jubilee year under the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. As a faculty, can we not go to our prisons and help liberate those who do not belong there?” Father Sumani said.
He emphasised that the university would provide the necessary resources to support the faculty in handling the cases.
Counsel Noel Chalamanda, one of the lawyers in the country who facilitated the training, expressed commitment to join the challenge of helping prisoners on a pro-bono basis.
“I will take on 10 cases in this challenge and only require assistance from the students with the paperwork,” he said.
CU head of practical legal studies Canisius Kadyampakeni said the department will facilitate the process by visiting some prisons to identify cases to be handled.
Malawi has faced issues with arrests for nuisance-related offences and inadequate investigations, often targeting impoverished individuals. This situation contributes to overcrowding in police cells and prisons.
The country is also under scrutiny for experiencing significant delays and mishandling by State actors, demonstrating systemic failures within the criminal justice system.
