President Dr Lazarus Chakwera is optimistic that the swearing-in of Justice Lovemore Chikopa as the first Deputy Chief Justice will help advance defence and justice in the country.
Dr Chakwera has said this at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe during the swearing in of Justice Chikopa as the Deputy Chief Justice.
The Malawi leader says Justice Chikopa is the right candidate for the position, describing him as a man of integrity and good character expressed in his judicial career life.
The President has since called on Malawians to give Justice Chikopa the much-needed support in his new role.
His appointment and swearing-in comes three years after Parliament passed the Constitution Amendment Bill which created the Deputy Chief Justice position.
Justice Chikopa was born in 1965.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from the University of Malawi obtained in 1987. He also holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration acquired from the University of Zambia in 2021.
The Supreme Court Judge started working in the Ministry of Justice as a State Advocate.
He also worked in the private sector before joining the Office of the Ombudsman as Principal Investigations Officer.
He joined the judiciary in 1998 as Resident Magistrate where he rose within the ranks to Chief Resident Magistrate. He was appointed as High Court Judge in 2000 and has served as Supreme Court of Appeal Judge for eleven years.
