BY SITILITHA MPEMBENJI
BLANTYRE-History has been made on Saturday in the legal profession as for the first time, over fifty law students have graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree at the Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA).
The graduation, which came barely a month after the National Council for Higher Education (Nche) ccredited Cunima to start offering a Bachelor of Law (Hons) programme, making it the first local private university to offer law.
The historical occasion was graced by the University Chairman Bishop Mtumbuka, Episcopal Conference of Malawi Secretary General Henry Saindi, Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director-General Martha Chizuma as Guest of Honor.
In her speech, Chizuma asked the graduating students to take a leading role in the fight against corruption which is deeply rooted in the country.
“The affairs of our Government have for many years been run by wrong people. People bent on corruption. Not only politicians but also public officers,” Chizuma said.
Chizuma said the citizenry have facilitated corruption directly or indirectly.
Chizuma then advised the Cunima law graduates to have an impact on the legal profession in Malawi.
“You will have to prove that you ain’t second class from those that graduated from Chancellor College,” she said.
“After graduation, the next step is to be examined by Malawi Institute of Legal Education, to be assessed together with law students from Chancellor College. They are no better than you, you are equally capable,” she added.
Vice Chancellor, Father George Buleya said the institution has graduated 59 law students.
“We are confident that you will always remember to stand with the poor, the marginalized and prevent harm. Yours is more than a profession. Yours is a calling,” he said.
“This is no mean achievement. We have endured the long wait to have this institution accredited. Cunima regards this as a game changer for the university and legal education in Malawi,” he added.
Cunima has pledged to produce distinguished, high quality law graduates that will selflessly defend the Constitution and protect the powerless.
The institution established its Faculty of Law in 2013 but the law programme has only been accredited this year.
