As the debate on the proposal by the Legal Aid Bureau, seeking for the amendment of Legal Aid Act in order to allow paralegals to be representing in some cases at the lower courts continues, Human Rights Organisations have rallied behind it.

The human rights defenders have expressed their support during a panel discussion held in Mponera.

A human rights lawyer, who is also a commissioner at the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), Chikondi Chijozi, has backed the move saying the less privileged are staying too long on remand and in police cells due to lack of legal representation.

Chijozi said: “More than 80 percent of the people who are found themselves in conflict with the law do not have access to lawyers and even if the lawyers were there these people can’t afford to pay legal fees.”

She further said allowing paralegals to represent people at subordinate court could help the country save resources and decongest the country’s prisons.

Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) also shown full support to the proposal.

On his part, Director of Legal Aid Bureau, Masauko Chamkakala, said overcrowding in most prisons is largely due to lack of legal representation by people arrested on petty issues.

Chamkakala added that government is wasting a lot of money feeding people who would have been outside prisons if they had representation.

Meanwhile the Malawi Law Society (MLS) has shown reservation on the proposal and has taken the matter to the High Court.