Public Appointments Committee of Parliament (PAC) yesterday confirmed lawyer Trouble Kalua as the new director of Malawi Legal Aid Bureau replacing Masauko Chamkakala who is now Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

PAC chairperson Joyce Chitsulo confirmed the appointment and said her committee was impressed with Kalua’s credentials and performance having worked for the bureau since 2015.

Kalua: I take it as an honour

She said Kalua, who until his appointment served as the bureau’s deputy director, wrote her committee expressing interest in the position and succeeded after attending the interviews.

Chitsulo said the appointment was with effect from March 1 2023 and they used Section 9 (1)(b) of the Legal Aid Act which mandates the committee to appoint the bureau’s deputy director to the office of the director without the requirement of a public advertisement.

She said: “He has worked as deputy director for the past eight years with Chamkakala and honestly we have been impressed with their performance. So we have appointed him for continuity sake. We will then proceed to advertise for the post of deputy director.”

In an interview yesterday, Kalua said he accepted the appointment with great humility.

He said: “I take it as an honour to be entrusted with the responsibility of directing this important institution. I have been at the bureau for the last 8 years.

“Under the leadership of the former director we put in place systems and procedures that have so far worked. I am not going to make any radical changes. As they say, if it’s not broken don’t fix it.”

Kalua also said he will carry on with the expansion drive until the bureau is able to serve all the corners of the country.

“I will try to create a vibrant team of employees who are motivated to provide the service to the people even in difficult circumstances,” he said.

President Lazarus Chakwera appointed Chamkakala as DPP to replace Steven Kayuni on January 8 2023.

PAC confirmed Chamkakala as the country’s top prosecutor on Monday with Chitsulo saying her committee was confident that he will deliver to the expectation of Malawians.

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