Legal Aid Bureau (Lab) Director Trouble Kalua has decried funding constraints, saying they are crippling its operations.
Kalua added that they do not have enough lawyers to meet service demand.
He said this in Zomba on Friday when the Malawi Law Society (MLS) launched the nationwide pro bono legal services scheme, where some lawyers will be representing less privileged community members for free.
“The Legal Aid Act mandates us to provide support in civil and criminal matters to individuals who lack the financial means to engage private legal practitioners. Our challenge has been financial constraints and our plea to the government is to consider increasing funds allocated to our institution so that we continue to represent more Malawians,’’ Kalua said.
MLS President Patrick Mpaka said 50 lawyers have already expressed interest in providing free legal services to less privileged service seekers to ease access to justice.
“Under this initiative, private practice lawyers will be required to spend specified hours representing deserving Malawians in courts and this will be a condition to enable them to renew their practising licence. This is a resolution from our annual general meeting and Malawians should be assured that we are committed to serving Malawians [who are] in conflict with the law,” Mpaka said.
High Court Judge Jean Rosemary Kayira urged magistrates in subordinate courts to only adjourn cases when it is necessary to do so.
She said slapdash adjournments lead to delays in accessing justice.
“Magistrates should adhere to set guidelines, which call for adjournments on justifiable grounds to ensure we do not have a backlog of cases. I also appeal to people to utilize these pro bono services,’’ Kayira said.
Times News
