Commissioners

In the current 7th Cohort, Commissioner Chijozi is a member of Child Rights Directorate and Civil and Political Rights Directorate. Commissioner Chikondi Chijozi is a passionate human rights lawyer with 17 years’ experience in human rights work. She has been a human rights activist since 2004 when she joined Centre for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance (CHREAA) as a paralegal officer. She rose up the ladder in the organisation and became the Deputy Executive Director and Litigation Manager. She is a strong advocate for rights of marginalised groups including women, children, sex workers, LGBTIQ and prisoners. She has been involved in strategic litigation challenging laws that oppress the marginalised groups. The notable cases that she has been involved in, include, the laws on rogue and vagabond, laws that target and criminalise sex workers, challenging the policy that prevent Rastafari children from being enrolled and admitted into government schools and protecting children from unlawful and arbitrary arrests and detentions. Ms. Chijozi holds a Master of Laws (International Human Rights Law) from University of Sussex in the United Kingdom and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Malawi, Chancellor College. Ms. Chijozi is currently working for the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) and she heads the Criminal Justice Program. She is also a board member of IPAS Malawi, Youth and Society (YAS). In 2006 she was awarded at the first African Young Women Summit for outstanding work in human rights. She is also an active member of the Women Lawyers Association in Malawi. In 2020 she was awarded by the Women Lawyers Association as the best female lawyer in NGO sector. She is a member of the Malawi Law Society and serves as a member of the Public Interest Litigation Committee. She also has published some articles and research work on various human rights issues.

Commissioner Martha Chizuma was appointed the Ombudsman of the Republic of Malawi on 1st December 2015. Holding the position of Ombudsman constitutionally makes her a Commissioner of the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), a Commissioner of the Police Service Commission and a member of Malawi Prison Inspectorate. As MHRC Commissioner, she has previously served as a Commissioner responsible for the Disability and Elderly Rights Directorate. Commissioner Chizuma is currently the Chairperson of MHRC Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Thematic Committee. Besides, she is a member of various MHRC Thematic Committees such as Child Rights Thematic Committee; and the Disability and Elderly Rights Thematic Committee. Commissioner Chizuma has led, participated or provided oversight functions in several low- and high-profile human rights related investigations that MHRC has conducted over the years particularly since 2015 when she became the Commissioner of MHRC. Carrying out such an oversight and investigative role in human rights violations at MHRC has ably complemented her job as Ombudsman where she has successfully led in investigations of several high- and low-profile cases relating to maladministration and abuse of public office in the process earning wider public and international recognition as one of the fearless, patriotic and outstanding public protector and human rights defenders of our time. For example, some of the national and international awards to her credit include: Woman of the Year Award 2021 African Gender Equality Conference; 2020 Women Lawyer Member of the Year – Government; and 2020 Institute of Marketers Person of the Year. Besides, under her leadership the office of the Ombudsman was voted 2019 Best exhibitor at the first ever Ombudsman Expo in Nigeria, 2019 Best Performer amongst Constitutional bodies and overall best performing public institution in the country. A member of the Bar Association of Malawi, Women Lawyers Association of Malawi and Women Judges Association of Malawi (founding member and ex-official), Commissioner Chizuma holds a Masters of Law in International Economic Law from the University of East London and Bachelor of Laws with Honors (LLB) from University of Malawi, Chancellor College. Commissioner Chizuma has practiced Law for 18 years having previously worked with Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company as Legal Counsel, Deputy Chairperson of Industrial Relations Court (IRC), Assistant Registrar of the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal and Senior Resident Magistrate. Commissioner Chizuma is also a board member of several international and local organisations such as the World Vision Malawi (a member of Advisory Council), PSI-Malawi and the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa. She is also the patron of FPAM

Apart from her day-to-day role as the current Law Commissioner at the Malawi Law Commission, and by virtue of being Law Commissioner, Rosemary Kanyuka is an ex-officio Human Rights Commissioner in the 7th Cohort. She is a Commissioner responsible for Corporate Services, Civil and Political Rights. Commissioner Rosemary Kanyuka is a seasoned Legal Practitioner and Corporate Lawyer of about 30 years of experience in both private practice and the public sector. Commissioner Kanyuka holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honors) Degree from University of Malawi, Chancellor College. She has vast experience in advising corporate clients, including drafting of legal instruments. She has also sat on a number of boards, such as the Reserve Bank of Malawi, First Merchant Bank, Continental Discount House, Securicor Malawi Limited and Vanguard Insurance. Besides, Commissioner Kanyuka has vast experience in company secretarial work, including drafting of legal instruments, including incorporation of companies such as Continental Discount House, Nascomex Ltd, Malawi Environmental Endowment Trust, Commodity Exchange Ltd, among others. Commissioner Kanyuka – a former diplomat having served as Malawi’s Deputy Ambassador to Japan between 2012 and 2017 – rejoined the Malawi Public Service, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and rose to the position of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP in 2010– in the process becoming the first female DPP in the history of Malawi). A Commonwealth fellow, Commissioner Kanyuka has also previously served as an Executive member of the Malawi Law Society’s Board of Executives. Commissioner Kanyuka is a Managing Partner of Messrs. Lilley, Wills &Company Legal Firm.