JB honours Chief Justice

Malawi President Joyce Banda has described Chief Justice Anastasia Msosa as a phenomenal woman who is an inspiration to women and young girls in the country.

The President said this at Bingu Conference Centre in Lilongwe on Saturday during a special fundraising dinner organised by the Women Judges Association of Malawi (Wojam) to celebrate Msosa’s life and achievements.

Said the President: “Chief Justice Anastasia Msosa is one woman I have watched and followed for a long time and I have always been amazed at how much a woman can achieve in a life time.”

She said when she came to power in April 2012 as the first female President in the country, she appointed Msosa as Chief Justice not only because she was a woman but because she also happened to be the most senior in the system and well qualified.

“When I look back, I believe that it was the will of God that come 2012, Malawi would have, for the first time a female President and a female Chief Justice,” she said.

Recounting the life story of the Chief Justice, solicitor general Janet Banda, said Msosa had risen through the judicial system ladders and that she was a model and an inspiration to all female judges.

“Throughout her career, Msosa has been a pioneer in a number of key offices. She started as a State legal advocate in 1975 and she later became the first female chief legal aid advocate, before she rose to be the first female Registrar General from 1990 – 92,” Banda explained.

The Solicitor General said Msosa was the first female Judge at the High Court and later, first female Justice of Appeal in the country.

Msosa was also the chairperson of the first-ever Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and she successfully presided over the first-ever democratic elections in the country in 1994.