MLS Warns Against Amendment of Legal Aid Act
The Malawi Law Society has cautioned against amending the Legal Aid Act to allow legal assistants to offer legal representation in minor cases for people at magistrate's courts.
The legal affairs committee of parliament and Legal aid Bureau say the proposal would ensure access to legal representation by a majority poor whose cases have stalled and therefore congesting prisons.
But in a statement jointly signed by the Society's president, Patrick Gray Mpaka, and its Honorary Secretary, Chrispin Chimwemwe Gunde, the society says the proposal actually takes away the very right of the needy at legal representation.
MLS honorary Secretary Chrispin Ngunde an interview this morning says ideally, the state should adequately fund the Legal aid Bureau to have adequate legal representatives for such.
Last modified on Thursday, 09/09/2021