Anthony Kamanga
Encyclopedia
Anthony D. Kamanga is a lawyer who has held various senior official positions in Malawi
, and as of 2011 was the Solicitor General.
, Canada
in 1982 and a Diploma in Legal Drafting in Ottawa
, Canada in 1993.
He was appointed Senior Counsel by the State President in 2004.
Kamanga was legal counsel to the Malawi Government for over twenty years.
He was responsible for international financial transactions with the World Bank Group
, the African Development Bank
and other multilateral financial institutions.
Kamanga was appointed Chief Parliamentary Draftsman in the Ministry of Justice, and was appointed a Commissioner when the Privatization Commission was established.
He was a member of the Constitutional Review Commission from August 2006 until July 2007, when he was appointed Solicitor General and Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
In December 2010, Kamanga yielded to pressure from George Chaponda
, Malawi’s Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, to enable Chaponda to use just over MK2 million ($13,000) of government money to travel to Geneva, Switzerland to attend a personal function.
In January 2011, a bill was passed giving the government the power to close print media outlets that published material it deems "contrary to the public interest". Kamanga defended the law, saying the Minister of Information must have "reasonable grounds" for such a closure, and that decisions could be challenged in court.
He said the amendment was based on the recommendation of the Malawi Law Commission, and "takes into consideration fundamental freedoms as enshrined in the constitution".
to hear minor, non-criminal cases, and was passed by parliament in February 2011.
The bill was controversial.
Traditional courts had been tools for political persecution in the past, and were banned by Bakili Muluzi
in 1994 after he won the first multi-party elections following independence.
Opposition leaders and human rights activists expressed concerns that the chiefs would abuse the authority of the revived traditional courts, and that the Judiciary would lose power.
Kamanga defended the law, saying the traditional courts would operate only at the local level,
with a jurisidiction limited to small matters.
The Local Courts bill includes a clause that bans fouling the air
: "Any person who vitiates the atmosphere in any place so as to make it noxious to the public to the health of persons in general dwelling or carrying on business in the neighbourhood or passing along a public way shall be guilty of a misdemeanour".
Speaking on Capital Radio
's Straight Talk program, Justice Minister Chaponda said that legislation bans farting in public places and makes it a criminal offense.
The story was quickly picked up by the foreign press, particularly the British tabloids.
Kamanga contradicted Chaponda, saying the bill referred only to air pollution.
Later, Chaponda retracted his remarks, saying he had not read the proposed bill before commenting.
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, and as of 2011 was the Solicitor General.
Career
Mamanga earned an LLB (Bachelor of Laws) in Malawi in 1978, an LLM (Master of Laws) in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1982 and a Diploma in Legal Drafting in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada in 1993.
He was appointed Senior Counsel by the State President in 2004.
Kamanga was legal counsel to the Malawi Government for over twenty years.
He was responsible for international financial transactions with the World Bank Group
World Bank Group
The World Bank Group is a family of five international organizations that makes leveraged loans, generally to poor countries.The Bank came into formal existence on 27 December 1945 following international ratification of the Bretton Woods agreements, which emerged from the United Nations Monetary...
, the African Development Bank
African Development Bank
The African Development Bank Group is a development bank established in 1964 with the intention of promoting economic and social development in Africa...
and other multilateral financial institutions.
Kamanga was appointed Chief Parliamentary Draftsman in the Ministry of Justice, and was appointed a Commissioner when the Privatization Commission was established.
He was a member of the Constitutional Review Commission from August 2006 until July 2007, when he was appointed Solicitor General and Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Controversy
In June 2009, Kamanga said that the department of justice was failing to execute its programs due to inadequate office equipment.In December 2010, Kamanga yielded to pressure from George Chaponda
George Chaponda
Dr. George T. Chaponda born , is a Malawian diplomat and politician. He is currently the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs....
, Malawi’s Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, to enable Chaponda to use just over MK2 million ($13,000) of government money to travel to Geneva, Switzerland to attend a personal function.
In January 2011, a bill was passed giving the government the power to close print media outlets that published material it deems "contrary to the public interest". Kamanga defended the law, saying the Minister of Information must have "reasonable grounds" for such a closure, and that decisions could be challenged in court.
He said the amendment was based on the recommendation of the Malawi Law Commission, and "takes into consideration fundamental freedoms as enshrined in the constitution".
Local Courts bill
Kamanga assisted in drafting the Local Courts bill, which would give authority to traditional courtsTraditional Courts in Malawi
In Malawi a system of Traditional Courts have been used for much of the twentieth century to prosecute crimes and mediate disputes. The current government of Malawi has proposed an expansion of this system...
to hear minor, non-criminal cases, and was passed by parliament in February 2011.
The bill was controversial.
Traditional courts had been tools for political persecution in the past, and were banned by Bakili Muluzi
Bakili Muluzi
Elson Bakili Muluzi is a Malawian politician. He was the President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004 and was Chairman of the United Democratic Front until 2009.-Presidency:...
in 1994 after he won the first multi-party elections following independence.
Opposition leaders and human rights activists expressed concerns that the chiefs would abuse the authority of the revived traditional courts, and that the Judiciary would lose power.
Kamanga defended the law, saying the traditional courts would operate only at the local level,
with a jurisidiction limited to small matters.
The Local Courts bill includes a clause that bans fouling the air
2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation
The 2011 Malawian Air Fouling Legislation is a section of the Local Courts bill submitted to the parliament of Malawi in February 2011 that bans fouling the air. When the Minister of Justice claimed that the bill made farting in public illegal, the story made headlines around the world...
: "Any person who vitiates the atmosphere in any place so as to make it noxious to the public to the health of persons in general dwelling or carrying on business in the neighbourhood or passing along a public way shall be guilty of a misdemeanour".
Speaking on Capital Radio
Capital Radio Malawi
Capital Radio Malawi is a radio station in Malawi that was launched on 29 March 1999 by journalist Alaudin Osman.The station broadcasts across all three regions of Malawi, and covers the urban centers of Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe, Mangochi and Mzuzu...
's Straight Talk program, Justice Minister Chaponda said that legislation bans farting in public places and makes it a criminal offense.
The story was quickly picked up by the foreign press, particularly the British tabloids.
Kamanga contradicted Chaponda, saying the bill referred only to air pollution.
Later, Chaponda retracted his remarks, saying he had not read the proposed bill before commenting.