Malawi to host lawyers’ continental conference
Malawi Law Society (MLS) will from 7th to 11th next month host the 2022 African Bar Association annual conference in Lilongwe. This is the continent’s biggest gathering of legal minds and President Lazarus Chakwera will be the guest of honour with Vice-President of Liberia Senator Jewel Howard Taylor being the keynote speaker. In this interview, our News Analyst LUCKY MKANDAWIRE speaks to MLS president PATRICK GRAY MPAKA on the conference and other issues. Excerpts:
Q
. Please shed more light on the African Bar Association and the upcoming continental conference?
A
Established in 1971 as a professional body uniting individual lawyers and national legal associations in Africa, Afba was designed to be a federation of national legal associations, corporate and unincorporated legal entities, and individual lawyers. Malawi is hosting this year’s Afba annual conference after Zimbabwe in 2016, Nigeria in 2017, Kenya in 2018, Liberia in 2019 and Niger in 2020 and 2021.
Q
How does it feel to be entrusted with the responsibility of hosting such a huge event and how significant is it to the country?
A
It is a great privilege received with a measure of humility and a determination to contribute to the Africa we want. In order to secure the hosting rights, MLS had to compete with other equally befitting associations. For MLS to be entrusted with such a responsibility coming soon after international recognition of the Malawi Judiciary by the Chatham House of United Kingdom, we say the legal profession in Malawi is maturing and MLS is attaining its strategic goals of maintaining complementary international partnerships. This is the kind of respect a legal profession must command in order to sustain the trust placed upon the profession in the country’s laws to make Malawi rule of law compliant. With this recognition the legal profession shall collectively be able to maintain the standard we have set as a leadership. We hope the public in Malawi will continue to trust and depend on the legal system for relevant guidance. We must seize the opportunity and decisively clear any perceptions and traits that may taint the image of the legal profession.
Q
Who are the attendees and what are your expectations from the conference?
A
The conference is expected to bring around 900 delegates from across the world. Some serving and past Heads of States and eminent Africans will be decorated with the 2022 African Bar Merit Medals for their service to the continent especially in the areas of good governance, promotion and protection of the Rule of Law, human rights, support for the legal profession and continental trade. President Lazarus Chakwera will be a special guest to open the conference on 8th August 2022 and Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor, Vice President Liberia will deliver the keynote speech. Malawi’s Chief Justice will also be in attendance. We are also expecting many business and military leaders from across Africa, including the former and current President of AfreximBank, a leading trade and finance bank for Africa.
Q
. The legal fraternity plays a vital role in fostering democracy, among others. How will MLS ensure that the country benefits from this annual conference?
A
The conference will present participants with an opportunity to meet and network with diverse participants from all walks of life and to discuss and proffer practical solutions to the numerous challenges facing the continent, especially in areas of international trade, good governance, security and the rule of law. It will showcase the endurance of Malawi’s legal system and evaluate the democratic progression of the continent. As you know it is law that binds communities together by offering social controls, dispute settlement mechanisms and foster social change. So, the conference is a forum for the African continent to share best practices and build on shared experiences in human interaction under the law across the continent. Apart from reflecting on the legal issues, the conference presents an opportunity for showcasing Malawi’s tourism, culture, trade etc. To ensure that the country benefits at that level, MLS has, through the Ministry of Justice, alerted all other government machinery to capitalize on the opportunities to be presented by an estimated 900 foreign delegates for a period of five days in the country. We have also called upon the private sector and the civil society sector to participate. In other words, the conference is open to everyone. We trust that they will all take appropriate advantage in their respective areas of influence to positively expose Malawi.
Q
. Why is this annual discourse open to other professionals such as politicians, businesspersons and ordinary citizens?
A
From my answers above you will see that the range of delegates cross-cuts professions and social structures- from politics, law, business and security etc. Shared knowledge and wisdom transcends professions. Law just like life itself does not operate in closed compartments. It operates within a social structure. So there is no point restricting to lawyers only the rare opportunity presented by such a continental conference as if lawyers live their lives independent of the societies and communities in which they operate. Through this conference we hope to contribute instituting an enduring legacy of transparent and accountable governance and set a common standard for Africa.
Q
. What is your final word on the issue?
A
When MLS is hosting such a conference it is us all as a nation hosting. We must all be proud and take part to make it a success. When you see the programme and the kind of participants lined up, you will ask yourself why is Africa where it is economically when it has so much talent. This conference displays why the continent must unite and co-ordinate its efforts and expertise towards the Africa we want. MLS wishes to thank all contributors to the conference and welcomes all our foreign delegates to the Warm Heart of Africa. n
