Magna Carta Exhibition Open to Public at Malawi Parliament Building

Magna Carta exhibition 

Malawi chosen to be the only Commonwealth African country to exhibit Magna Carta, open to public at National Assembly building.

Established in England, Magna Carta, is a Latin word for the Great Charter which is both a document and set of ideas issued by King John 800 years ago.

Magna Carta established the rule of law and laid the foundation for personal liberty which acts as a set of principles and reference point for many legal compasses as it has helped to shape liberty, Justice, democracy and the rule of law across the world.

Scales, Mkandawire, Ligowe:Briefing media 

This year, the Commonwealth is celebrating 800th Anniversary of the Sealing of the Magna Carta

Magna Carta is of relevance to Malawi since British settlers in Nyasaland used the provisions of Magna Carta to ensure their freedom and protection of their property by colonial administration. When Malawi became independent in 1964 Constitution included a Bill of Rights that featured largely the civil and political rights in Magna Carta, and now, the 1994 Constitution also has a comprehensive human rights chapter including Sections 28, 41, 42 and section 43.

Martin Scales 

British Deputy High Commissioner to Malawi Martin Scales said the Magna Carta exhibition to Malawi is here for number of successes Malawi has had and continues to exhibit across the world.

He said Malawi was chosen because of the strength of Malawi Constitution and its Judicial Independence including its active role in the commonwealth lawyers and magistrates association.

Scales

The British Deputy High Commissioner added that the Magna Carta is only encouraging states not exercise their powers in arbitrary manner.

Martin Scales said Magna Carter Exhibition in Malawi is a great honor and that’s a reason to celebrate and more reason to go and see the Magna Carta at the National Assembly.

Charles Mkandawire

Regional Vice President for East, Central and Southern Africa, Justice Charles Mkandawire said the Magna Carta brings to the judicial system in Malawi important message.

He said it reminds them their obligation to interpret fundamental values of the Constitution including the chapter on human rights,

“We have to be very robust” He said “And not forgetting the history where we are coming from. Our 1964 constitution had a chapter on bill of rights and in 1966 we scraped it off. But in 1994 constitution we brought back the human rights. Now the judiciary having the mandate in the section 9 of the constitution to interpret the laws of Malawi, the Judiciary has to give the meaning of what the constitution says in terms of the rights of citizens of this country.”

Justice Mkandawire said this exhibition is educating people the importance of fundamental rights and at the same time putting Malawi on the Map for its achievements on stable judicial system, governance system as well, foster confidence to investors that Malawi has a stable legal system that will protect their investment.

Thomson  Ligowe

President for the Judges and Magistrates Association of Malawi,  Thomson Ligowe shared similar views on the importance of Malawi hosting the Magna Carter exhibition

Magna Carter has continued to strongly influence the protection of the freedoms and  fundamental rights and to shape the development of democracy and the legal system in the world.  The Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) 1948 borrows heavily from the provisions of the Magna Carta.

The Commonwealth Lawyers Association, in partnership with the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association and the Commonwealth Legal and Education Association have organized a touring exhibition entitled “Magna Carta to Commonwealth celebrating the influence of Magna Carta throughout the Commonwealth”

The Magna Carta celebrations and tour exhibition began on 12th April 2015, in Glasgow Scotland and is now in Malawi leaves for Malaysia on 19 July 2015 and finally to Wellington New Zealand where 17th Triennial Conference for Commonwealth Magistrates and Judge’s Association will be held from 13th-18th September 2015.