Newly-elected Malawi Law Society (MLS) president Davis Njobvu has pledged to deal with corruption in the legal profession.
Njobvu, who has replaced Patrick Mpaka, also said his long-term aspiration is to ensure that the imbalances existing in the legal profession are addressed.
“First, we have to put our house in order as a profession and ensure we remove the hurdles and level the playing field so that every
practitioner joins and achieves the society’s objectives while protecting the interests of the public,” he said.
Njobvu told the media at the end of the two-day MLS 2025 annual general meeting (AGM) and conference held in Mangochi that corruption was a huge problem in the legal profession he said he would ride on the back of the outgoing executive committee effort which has made strides towards checking the vice.
He said: “There has been a lot of dialogue with the Judiciary as well as the Ministry of Justice on the issue of perceived corruption in the legal profession.
“I would want to continue to ensure that I regard the Judiciary and the ministry as key stakeholders so that the fight is done collectively because one man or one institution cannot eradicate corruption.”
The focus on the issue at the annual lake conference, which kicked off on Friday follows allegations of judicial corruption raised by former judge president Justice Esme Chombo and, most recently, private practice lawyer Alexious Kamangila.
Justice Chombo six years ago reported to the Law Society that lawyers were allegedly colluding with court clerks to destroy court documents.
In her letter dated January 18 2018, Justice Chombo, who was then the Lilongwe Registry judge president, but now retired, complained that some lawyers were paying court staff to “misplace or destroy court files to frustrate case proceedings”.
Additionally last year, Kamangila raised alarm through social media over alleged mishandling of a commercial case involving Salima Sugar Company.
During its 2021 conference, MLS passed a resolution which culminated into a joint statement with the Judiciary effectively admitting the challenges in the administration of justice and publicly recording a desire and plan to address the same once and for all.
Over 500 members of the legal profession and leaders of other professions with varied expertise attended the two-day meeting.
At the end of the conference, legal pundits hailed Mpaka for his outstanding leadership during the four years he has served as the society’s president.
As he officially stepped down Saturday afternoon, the outgoing president, who has served two terms having been first elected in 2021, received a standing ovation for his exceptional leadership skills and passion to the society.
Seasoned legal practitioners senior counsels (SC) Modecai Msisha and Samuel Tembenu led the legal fraternity in describing Mpakas’ leadership as remarkable and visionary.
During the event, the society also recognised 14 MLS members and employees for their exceptional contribution to the profession.
Among those awarded are Msisha, Kamudoni Nyasulu, the late Professor Ngeyi Kanyongolo, Ralph Mhone, MLS chief executive officer Chrispine Ngunde.
