The Attorney General Alliance-Africa (AGA-Africa) in collaboration with the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) organized an Oral Advocacy workshop which was held on 29th - 30th April 2022 at Sunbird Livingstonia Hotel in Salima. The objective of the workshop was to train prosecutors in the area of oral advocacy.
Senior Assistant Chief State Advocate Dzikondianthu Malunda opened the workshop on behalf of the DPP. He emphasized the importance of oral advocacy to prosecutors in investigation and prosecution of transnational crimes, i.e., human trafficking, drug smuggling, arms trafficking and even cybercrimes. ‘Oral advocacy serves to advance the rule of law as counsel is able to diligently prosecute crimes.’ He further acknowledged the diversity of the presenters that were going to offer detailed discussions in matters of oral advocacy across various fields of legal interest during the workshop.
Guest of Honour at the workshop was the honourable Attorney General, Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda. In his keynote address, he offered insights into the essence and fundamentals of oral advocacy. In his presentation, he demonstrated how good oral advocacy skills are vital when making submissions, effectively presenting evidence as well as addressing the myriad of challenges faced by counsel in court.
The Attorney General stated that oral advocacy is a tool that counsel use in making impressive presentations and submissions before the court. The presentations that counsel makes before the court must use theory that is logical, believable and credible. In these presentations, one must use an outline and avoiding reading notes in order to demonstrate thorough understanding and insight presenting facts that are a force to reckon with.
In his closing remarks, the DPP, Steven Kayuni PhD, thanked AGA-Africa for their continued support of the training and workshops conducted in collaboration with his office. While looking forward to other pertinent similar workshops during the year, he urged the prosecutors in his Directorate to effectively put to use the lessons and skills learnt at the workshop immediately.
Presenters at this workshop included:
- Brian McMath CIPP/US, Division Director, Consumer 7 Environmental Protection, New Mexico Office of the Attorney General, USA.
- Gracilia Chipulu Mulenga, Principal State Advocate, Taxation and Financial Crimes Department, National Prosecution Authority, Zambia.
- Barbra Tsiga, Deputy Commissioner of Police and Director of Legal Services, Malawi Police Service.
- Dzikondianthu Malunda, Senior Assistant Chief State Advocate, Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
- Pirirani Masanjala, prosecutor, Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
- Jacob Montfort Nambiri, Principal Paralegal Officer, Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
- Stephen Kiptinness, Senior Partner, KO Associates, Kenya.
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