By Pemphero Malimba:
The Legal Aid Bureau (LAB) says it needs an addition of K685 million to effectively carry out its operations across the country.
In the 2024-25 financial year, the bureau has been allocated K2.6 billion while in the previous budget, its allocation stood at K2.1 billion.
LAB spokesperson John Namalenga Jnr said although there has been an increase in the allocation, the bureau cannot effectively carry out its activities, which largely involve representing in court suspects who cannot afford lawyers, if it does not get more support.
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“We want to reach out to more Malawians across the country, so what we have been allocated may not sustain our activities,” Namalenga Jnr said.
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He added that the bureau understands the current economic situation which is also affecting the government in allocating resources to ministries, departments and agencies.
Namalenga indicated that LAB is trying as much as possible to get other donors to support its activities.
“We expect to have some funding from external stakeholders like the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme, which help in implementing several activities,” he said.
He added that the bureau wants to embark on opening new district offices, prison visits, camp courts and awareness campaigns, among other activities.
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Chairperson for the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament Peter Dimba said the committee has always been committed to advocating for improved funding to LAB.
“We have always lobbied for increased budget allocations to the bureau and other equally important governance institutions that have perennially operated under constrained budgets,” Dimba said.
He added that his committee will continue pushing for more resources to be given to the bureau.
“We keep hoping that despite the thin fiscal resource envelope, Treasury will realise that the justice sector is the bedrock of our democracy and deserves adequate resources,” Dimba said.
Human rights activist Victor Mhango fears that the funding deficit at LAB will affect vulnerable groups of people who rely on the bureau’s services.
“Many vulnerable groups will not access justice since the Legal Aid Bureau is the only legal institution to provide free legal services to the poor,” Mhango said.
He then asked the bureau to intensify efforts of raising funds to fill the deficit.
