By Hendriner Kagwira
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Government’s Chief legal advisor, Chikosa Silungwe has condemned leakage of his legal advice to government, calling it silly and immature.
In a statement he released on Friday, February 12, 2021 the Attorney General (AG) expressed disappointment with the recent leakage of his legal opinions which he says is unprecedented.
He singled out his opinions of 12th August 2020 and 20th August 2020 on legality of interdiction without pay and composition of the electoral commission respectively, which he says, found their way to the public on 11th February 2021.
“Since I assumed office, a number of opinions I have given to ministries, departments or agencies have leaked on social media. This is unprecedented. The leakages have generated unwarranted cyber-debates often leading to conclusions that I have misapplied the law” the statement reads.
The AG has also urged public officers to ensure professionalism in their service, with a warning to stop the leakages.
“Since, I know that the leakages are not from the ministry of justice, I expect colleagues from the other ministries , departments or agencies to be professionals they must be.
” Leaking my opinions in a manner it happened on Thursday, 11 February 2021, is simply silly and immature. I trust that the people of Malawi have seen the last chapter of this absolute and hideous nonsense. ” Says the legal expert.
He said he recognises the constitutional underpinnings for the discharge of public office mandate which are; interest of Malawi; their trust; and the requirement to uphold an open accountable and transparent government, as opposed to serving to impress incumbent leaders.
Bearing the constitutional mandate to provide legal advise to government, Silungwe, has assured Malawians that he would not let Malawi down.
“The opinion of 12th August 2020 and 20 august 2020 are opinions I will stand by. The opinions are correct at law” he stated
