Kondwani Banda, Registrar of the Supreme Court of Appeal and High Court
The legal profession, like other professions, has its own unique traditions. One of such, is a memorial court sitting. This is a court sitting that is held in honour and memory of departed members of the profession. It is also an occasion that commemorates the departed members’ individual and collective contribution to the development and growth of the law and the legal profession.
While the court sitting is open to members of the public, it is primarily attended by members of the families and acquaintances of the departed professionals, legal practitioners led by the Malawi Law Society and its chairperson, judicial officers led by the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
The last of such sitting was held in the year 2008 under the leadership of departed Chief Justice, Honourable Lovemore Green Munlo, SC.
The current court sitting will be held on Thursday, 28th September, 2023 from 10:00a.m. at the Supreme Court of Appeal for Malawi, Chichiri Court Complex in Blantyre led by the current Chief Justice, Honourable Rizine Robert Mzikamanda, SC. It will cover members of the legal profession (both the Bench and the Bar) that departed from the year 2009 to date.
At the time of writing this article, the information that our reporter saw indicated that there were 38 departed members of the Bar and 17 departed members of the Bench for whom the memorial court sitting will be held.
In order to ensure that members of the general public and even of the legal profession who may not be able to attend the sitting in person follow it, it will be broadcast live on Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) and their online platforms. The Malawi Judiciary will also stream it live through its Facebook page.
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