MLS Promotes Environmental Justice and Human Rights: Key Highlights of The 2026 Conference & Annual General Meeting
The Malawi Law Society held its 2026 Conference and Annual General Meeting from 26th to 29th March 2026 at Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi. This was a landmark gathering that brought together the breadth of the legal profession under the compelling theme of “Environmental Justice and Human Rights: Unpacking the Role of the Legal Profession in Promoting Climate Justice.”
777 participants attended the event underscoring the Society’s reach and the profession’s appetite for engagement on issues that sit at the intersection of law, governance, and the environment.
The keynote address was delivered by Ms. Fenella Frost, UNDP Resident Representative and Guest of Honour, who set a thought-provoking tone for the day’s proceedings, calling on the legal community to place climate rights and environmental accountability at the centre of legal practice and policy advocacy.
A Conference that Set the Agenda
Six scholarly papers formed the intellectual backbone of the Conference, each tackling a distinct facet of climate justice and environmental law. The presenters and their subjects reflected the diversity and depth of expertise within Malawi’s legal fraternity:
The Conference produced a set of concrete recommendations for policy holders and players in the environmental management and climate justice space, a clear signal of the legal profession’s readiness to assume a leadership role in shaping Malawi’s environmental future.
Investing In the Next Generation: The JLD Mentorship Evening
In the evening following the Conference, the Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) hosted a mentorship panel. The session was Moderated by JLD Chairperson Mr. Chifuniro Chaponda and opened with remarks from the Chairperson of the Society. The session brought together three distinguished voices from across the legal profession: Mr. Alfred Majamanda (Partner, Mbendera & Nkhono Associates), Ms. Chisomo Governor (Legal and Regulatory Director, TNM Plc) and Mr. Chimwemwe Chithope Mwale (Director, Legal Aid Bureau)
The interactive discussion tackled critical issues of professional development, career navigation, and the realities of legal practice across sectors. Participants were encouraged to engage freely and they did, making the session one of the most animated of the gathering. The event underscored the Society’s commitment to nurturing the profession’s next generation.
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting convened on 28th March 2026 with 716 members in attendance. The meeting conducted the formal business of the Society. Among the key business of the meeting was the election of a new Remuneration Committee following the expiry of the previous members’ terms. The Elections Subcommittee oversaw a smooth electoral process, and declared the following members dully elected as members of the Committee for the period 2026-2028: Dr. Kalekeni Kaphale SC, Mr. Maziko Sauti Phiri SC, Mr. Frank Zambezi, Ms. Reena Purshotam, and Mr. Eric Salima.
