Prominent legal scholar Ngeyi Ruth Kanyongolo died yesterday at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre after a short illness and tributes have started flowing for her from the legal fraternity.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Trace Kanyongolo said Ngeyi was taken to the hospital last week.
He said: “She complained of some aching in her leg. Samples were taken and before the results were out, that is when we were informed of her passing.
Vice-Chancellor on September 25 this year
“Tentatively, we will head to Zomba on Tuesday for the funeral service and the next day [Wednesday], we will proceed to her home village at Chechamba in Chiradzulu.”
Ngeyi, an associate professor of law, was wife to retired University of Malawi (Unima) associate professor of law Edge Kanyongolo.
She taught law at Unima alongside her husband before
quitting to join the Catholic University of Malawi where last month she was installed as its third Vice-Chancellor and the first woman in that role.
Until her death, she was serving as board chairperson of Airtel Malawi plc. She also previously served as Standard Bank Malawi plc board chairperson and was sitting on the boards of several companies, including Old Mutual Malawi Limited.
In his tribute, private practice lawyer Wapona Kita said he was taught law by Ngeyi at Unima and will greatly miss her.
He said: “She supported us and kept calling us to find out how we are doing in our various careers in law. We have lost a giant. The gap she has left in the legal profession will not be replaced.”
Former Catholic University of Malawi dean of law John-Gift Mwakhwawa described Ngeyi’s death as devastating.
He recalled that the entire Catholic University establishment was excited when Ngeyi joined them as Vice-Chancellor in February this year.
“She was an accomplished administrator, a great legal mind, a mentor and role model to young female lawyers who are just starting out in practice,” said Mwakhwawa.
Malawi Law Society (MLS) president Patrick Mpaka, in written response yesterday, described Ngeyi’s death as a huge blow to the legal profession.
He said: “It is a shocking and an indescribable loss to the legal profession and to many sectors of our country given her immeasurable contribution, vitality and accessibility to whoever sought her guidance. Let her soul rest in peace.”
Lawyer Khumbo Soko and professor of law Mwiza Nkhata separately described Ngeyi’s death as a very sad development while asking for more time before they made their tributes.
“Very, very sad. I am at a loss for words,” said Nkhata in a brief WhatsApp response.
According to Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) website, Ngeyi was appointed to the Cunima position with effect from March 5 2024.
Ngeyi held a PhD in law from the University of Warwick and a master’s degree in law from the University of London, both in the United Kingdom. She also held a bachelor of law with honours from Unima.
During the 23 years with Unima, Ngeyi served as a member of the university senate, dean of the Faculty of Law and matron of the students’ union.
She will be laid to rest on Wednesday at Che Chamba Village in Thyolo District
