Editors PickNational News

VP tells ‘idiots’ to stay away

Vice-President Saulos Chilima on Friday advised people who have little knowledge about legal, economic and social issues, whom he called ‘idiots’, to refrain from commenting on such matters.
Chilima, in his key note address when he opened the Malawi Law Society (MLS) annual general meeting (AGM) in Mangochi, said it would be respectful to call such people “some characters”, but they are idiots.
The Vice-President told the delegates that sometimes the nation watches things go wrong because people that have no knowledge about law or anything else have been allowed to say something.

Chilima: Some Malawians have been trained by AMECEA
Impressed with the theme: Chilima

He urged MLS not to entertain ‘idiots’ to walk around and make comments as experts, warning that that brings anxiety among Malawians when such ‘idiots’ tell half-truths or deliberately misinterpret issues.
During the AGM, also attended by, among others, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu, Attorney General Kalekeni Kaphale among other dignitaries, the Vice-President urged the lawyers to guard their profession jealously.
Chilima, who is championing reforms in the public sector, said investors would first assess a country’s state of the rule of law before embarking on any meaningful investment venture, adding that the law provides security, stability and comfort.
Chilima said: “I am impressed with the theme of this year’s AGM, which is ‘Regulation of financial institutions and protection of consumers of financial services”.
“The theme has come at a very crucial time  as the government of Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika is implementing various reforms, including those on financial regulation.
“Financial regulation and the protection of consumers of financial services is a very important element of the economy. Therefore, it is befitting that this AGM will provide an opportunity to deliberate emerging financial challenges rocking our country.”
He said under the current legal arrangement, financial institutions which exploit consumers should be held accountable.  He said a financial institution has an obligation to tell the borrower what their rights and obligations are in any credit arrangement.
“I urge you, therefore, as the Malawi Law Society to raise awareness through the mass media so that consumers of financial institutions are aware of the new arrangements that have been put in place to protect them,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Tembenu also called on what he called ‘experts’ to restrain from commenting on issues they have little knowledge about.
Tembenu said whatever any government official says, ‘experts’ come up with a different opinion.
He urged MLS to speak with one voice that is clear to the public and government. He said as government, it noted what people have been saying about plunder of public funds, Cashgate at Capital Hill, but urged lawyers to also help the cases proceed with speed.
Meanwhile, private practice lawyer John Suzi-Banda yesterday retained the MLS presidency unopposed, so too unopposed during the society’s elections were Mwiza Nkhata, a prominent law lecturer at University of Malawi’s Chancellor College as vice-president and secretary Khumbo Soko. However Felister Jumbe, a lawyer with Malawi Housing Cooperation (MHC) had to defeat Gabriel Kambale to take custody of the society’s purse as former treasurer Chimwemwe Ngondoma did not seek re-election.
Committee members who have been roped in are Barton Mhango, Paula Caetano and Atiji Phiri. n

Related Articles

2 Comments

  1. But even the government itself fails to have one voice on critical issues. We lack leadership here.

  2. How about idiotic government ministers saying the most ludicrous things without giving any thought to the implications of such statements? Who is there to censure such idiots, Mr Chilima? Malawi is beset by so many challenges and the leadership of this country including yourself are letting our country down. Corruption is rife in government departments and getting worse and no-one is showing leadership in getting rid of this evil among us.

    The country is virtually on its knees economically and socially and what are you guys doing about it? Nothing!!. So my advice is to pack up and get proper jobs which are easier to manage than a poor country. Malawi has never been in such a bad state and sadly this is happening at Mutharika, yourself and the DPP. SAD.

Back to top button