Judge for diverse opinion on minority rights

There is need for people to actively participate in various forums on minority rights which are being championed by various stakeholders in order to make informed decisions, High Court Judge Dunstain Mwaungulu has observed.

Mwaungulu said minority rights are a real issue such that politicians, the Legislature as well as the courts are all looking at the constitutional interpretation of the laws.

He was speaking at Chancellor College’s Faculty of Law in Zomba on Thursday when he graced the finals of the Moot Court Trial Competition which was organised by the Centre for Development of People (Cedep) and the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR).

The competition pitted law students’ teams against each other in court sessions with arguments and counterarguments, and submissions centering on issues of minority rights such as gay rights.

Mwaungulu said bringing such issues to the intellectuals will help broaden the debate as the students were diverse in their approach to the problem during the sessions.

“Not only did the students look at the legal point of view but they also tackled socio-cultural context of the whole issue. They were very passionate about the public interest and also the human rights aspect of it. Those that do not participate in these discussions lose a lot because it is very important listening to every opinion and make a decision,” he said.

In his remarks, CHRR executive director Timothy Mtambo said human rights cannot be limited and forfeited as they belong to all and must be respected.