LILONGWE, Friday, May 29, 2015 (MaraviPost): Professor Garton Kamchedzera in the department of legal studies at Chancellor College, the constituent college of University of Malawi has lamented the dwindling of legal standards in country that is marred with greed and materialism.
The observation comes amid the public lost of trust on legal practioners conduct as most of them have been implicated in dubious means such as in cash gate cases under way in various Malawi’s courts.
Professor Kamchedzera made the remarks during the sensetisation conference in the capital Lilongwe on Friday which Malawi Law Society (MLC) organized for legal practioners across the nation aimed at highlighting emerging issues in ethics for possible transacting of business with the public interest.
In his presentation, titled, “The salient features of ethics for the Malawian lawyers: Emerging issues in ethics”, Professor Kamchedzera pointed out the dwindling of legal standards saying lawyers, judges are more interested in money making than serving the public who are in dilemma seeking justice.
“It very embarrassing and hurting to hear that some of my former students are implicated in dubious deals which has lowered the public trust on legal practioners in the country which is one of the oldest and noble professions worldwide due to greed and hungry to make money fast.
“Legal professional is a calling from GOD; so, competency and compliance to ethical values complement the sector to serve the public. Legal practioners are supposed to bid by that, otherwise, we are not helping the already rotten society which has lost its cultural values. Therefore, we must be vigilant in reversing the country’s moral values through our decisive attitudes and behavior when executing our work”, urges Professor Kamchedzera.
Echoing on the same, John Suzi Banda, MLS President said it was high time that the legal sector’s conduct was in line with the general public expectation than the current trend.
Legal ethics is a term used to describe a code of conduct governing proper professional behavior, which establishes the nature of obligations owed to individuals and to society. In order to maintain a license to practice law, attorneys agree to uphold the Rules of Professional Conduct, adopted by the Malawi Law Society (MLC)
“So, the main object of the ethics of legal profession is to maintain the dignity of the legal professional and friendly relation between the bench and the bar”, appeals Banda.
Later in an interview with the Maravi Post, Malawi’s Attorney General Kalekeni Kaphale warned the legal practioners in the country saying whoever is abusing the public when executing their duties because are lawyers and judges, government will decisively track them down in facing the supreme law of the land.
“Government is also worried with the misconduct of our legal practioners who are currently implicated in questioning transactions and are even abusing the public. Lawyers, judges are the eyes of the marginalized who seeks justice such that money and other material gains must come second.
“Government is ready to protect its citizens from such injustices. Therefore, whoever is court in the misconduct, will face the supreme law of the land without looking their status and background in the society”, challenges Attorney General Kaphale.
