By Kossam Banda
Former Chief Justice of Malawi, Lovemore Munlo, has died today at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre.
Tributes from various sectors in the country have poured for the lawyer and politician who held several positions in a career that spanned over 3 decades.Munlo was appointed Chief Justice of Malawi in 2007 by the then President Bingu wa Mutharika. He served as Chief Justice until he retired in 2013.
He then contested for the presidency of the Malawi Congress Party where he lost to Lazarus Chakwera who is now President of Malawi.
Before his appointment as Chief Justice, Munlo served in various portfolios in government such as Minister of Justice and Attorney General (1993 to 1994), Justice of the High Court of Malawi (1990 to 1992); Director of Public Prosecutions (1984 to 1987); Senior State Advocate (1980 to 1984) and State Advocate (1976 to 1980).
Malawi Congress Party , of which the late Munlo was a staunch support wrote “ Malawi Congress Party has learnt with shock about the passing to eternity of Retired Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo,SC who until his death was a bonafide member of the party.
In his service to the party, Justice Munlo upheld and promoted MCP political ideals through advice, mentorship of others and professional capital as an eminent legal mind.
We extend deepest sympathy to his family and pray for emotional healing during this dark hour.MCP family will always value the contribution he made to the establishment for decades”
Dalitos Kabambe DPP leading candidate paid his homage to the ate Munlo. Writing on his facebook page he said “The demise of my brother, Retired Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo (SC), fills me with great sadness. It is even more tragic to the nation, as it comes just few days after the death of his brother Dr Isaac Munlo.
As a person, I learnt a lot from the Retired Chief Justice’s life of service and dedication to the Malawi nation. At his passing, we have lost a man of utmost truthfulness and courage who always had Malawi at heart. A firm believer in the law who helped this nation survive through some of its turbulent periods. I mourn with the Munlo family, the legal fraternity and the nation at large”
Munlo was educated at the University of Malawi, where he obtained a LL.B. degree in 1976, and the University of London, where he was awarded a LL.M. degree in 1989.
He has died just over a week after the death of his young brother Isaac Munlo who died of Covid-19 at Queens Elizabeth Central Hospital.
Details of his funeral will be announced later
