Barely three months after Mwiza Nkhata and Michael Chipeta took over leadership of the Malawi Law Society (MLS) as president and honorary secretary, respectively, the duo has resigned.
Nkhata told The Daily Times Monday he foresees that, in the short term, he will not be available to carry out the business of the society due to “personal developments in life”.
“I have tendered my resignation because I foresee that, shortly, I will not be there to attend to the society’s business. There are personal developments in my life. So it is only fair for the society to choose someone who can [be] present and attend to the society’s business,” he said.
Nkhata said it is only a coincidence that MLS’s secretary has also tendered his resignation letter.
He said his resignation is not with immediate effect as MLS’s Executive Committee (Exco) has set up a transition period until others are elected at an extraordinary general meeting.
“We have set up a transition period so that my leave should not affect the society’s business. The current Exco will call for an extraordinary general meeting to elect new office-bearers for my position and that of the secretary,” he said.
Chipeta could not be reached for a comment.
MLS Vice-President, Alfred Majamanda, confirmed that he has received resignation letters from the duo.
Majamanda said Chipeta has resigned due to work pressure as he could not commit himself to the secretariat.
“What he has said in the letter is that he is receiving a lot of clients, a development affecting him to commit himself fully to the society,” he said.
Nkhata, an associate professor of law at Chancellor College, University of Malawi, took over the reins of power from Khumbo Soko, who did not seek re-election after serving one term.
In his acceptance speech, Nkhata said he wanted to lead a society that is inclusive in the way it operates by involving as many members as possible.
Nkhata and Chipeta were supposed to be in power for 12 months as per MLS’s constitution.
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