𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

The Malawi Judiciary and the Malawi Law Society (MLS) have reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening accountability, professionalism, and collaboration within the justice sector. This follows the successful conclusion of the Bench-Bar Symposium held in Blantyre on Monday, under the theme “Accountability of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession: Reflections on Regulatory Frameworks of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession.”

The day-long symposium brought together members of the Judiciary, the Malawi Law Society, senior legal practitioners, and law students to reflect on the implementation of recent Judicial Reform Acts and the Legal Education and Legal Practitioners Act (LELPA) with a focus on how these laws can strengthen professional ethics and accountability mechanisms for both judicial officers and lawyers.

In his opening address, the Honourable the Chief Justice Rizine Robert Mzikamanda, SC, underscored the importance of fostering a strong and professional relationship between the Bench and the Bar as a foundation for an effective justice system.

The Bench and the Bar are two key players in the administration of justice with different, but interconnected and complementary roles in the legal system.

The Chief Justice went on to emphasise that accountability and independence are inseparable pillars of justice, guided by international standards such as the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct and the UN Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary, among others.

Delivering his opening remarks, Malawi Law Society Chairperson Mr. Davis Mthakati Njobvu hailed the Chief Justice and the Judiciary for their openness to collaboration. He traced the long journey toward the enactment of the Judicial Reform Acts and called for their speedy operationalisation.

“We should all reflect on where we are coming from and why it is important to be accountable. I also would like everyone to appreciate the common desire shared by the Bench, the Bar and other stakeholders, including the public, to have an improved justice delivery system,” said Mr. Njobvu.

We now have a law that has given hope to the common man seeking justice in our courts that his case will be heard and a decision will be rendered in good time so that he can know his fate without further delays.

Mr. Njobvu also reiterated that the Law Society’s push for accountability is not adversarial but complementary to the Judiciary’s mission, as he described the Malawi Law Society as the nursery of the Judiciary.

The symposium featured insightful presentations from Honourable Justice Jean Rosemary Kayira, Mr. Kamudoni Nyasulu, SC, and Dr. Henry Chingaipe, who offered reflections from the Bench, the Bar, and the public, respectively. Their discussions revolved around the practical implementation of reforms, the review of professional codes of conduct, and the design of disciplinary frameworks that promote transparency and public trust.

The symposium was jointly organised by the Judiciary and the Malawi Law Society, with financial support from Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM) Plc.