Vera Chirwa
Encyclopedia
Vera Mlangazua Chirwa is a Malawian born lawyer and human and civil rights activist. She was Malawi
's first female lawyer and a founding member of the Malawi Congress Party. She fought for multiparty democratic rule in Malawi and was charged with treason, tried and sentenced to death by the authoritarian Kamuzu Banda regime. She spent 12 years on death row. She was married to lawyer Orton Chirwa
, Malawian Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
to form the Nyasaland African Women's League, which worked with the Nyasaland African Congress
to gain Nyasaland
's separation from the unpopular Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
.
She became Nyasaland's first female lawyer, and was a founding member of the Malawi Congress Party
in 1959.
After Nyasaland gained self-government in 1961 and became the independent state of Malawi
two years later, Orton Chirwa
, Vera’s husband became a senior figure in the new government as Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
After having a falling out with Kumuzu Banda, Vera Chirwa and Orton Chirwa
were declared enemies of the state. They went into exile shortly after.
a few weeks later by the authoritarian Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda. They lived in Tanzania, but traveled to Zambia
, Great Britain
and the United States of America.
On Christmas Eve 1981, Vera and Orton Chirwa
were kidnapped in the East of Zambia by Malawi security forces and taken back to Malawi to face charges of high treason. The Chirwas, both lawyers, conducted their own defence. After a trial lasting 2 months, they were found guilty even though the evidence against them had not been proved. They were both sentenced to death. On the day of the trial Vera defiantly raised her hand to speak and looking the magistrate straight in the eye asked him on what grounds they were accused. Questioning the court was forbidden and the response she received was, "Nothing but you are culprit!".
The couple were taken to the notorious central prison in Zomba (a prison with a terrible reputation). According to Chirwa, "En route we forgave the people who gave false testimonies, the judges and even the President." It was the last time they traveled together.
In 1990 Amnesty International launched an urgent action to release Orton and Vera. In autumn 1992, when a delegation of British legal experts was allowed to pay them a visit, the Chirwas were allowed to see one another again for the first time in 8 years. Ortan died in his cell 3 weeks later at the age of 73. She was not able to attend the funeral.
President Kamuzu Banda, appointed for life, pardoned her for "humanitarian reasons", and she was released on January 24, 1993 when the country was transitioning to a multi-party state following the end of Banda’s dictatorial regime..
and the Bingu wa Mutharika
governments. She also works for Womens Voice, a gender rights organization.
at the University of Pretoria
in South Africa to an individual “who best epitomises the true African human rights lawyer” and has “made an outstanding contribution to the protection and promotion of human rights in Africa.” Recipients are alumni of the Master of Laws programs in Human Rights and Democratization at the University of Pretoria.
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
's first female lawyer and a founding member of the Malawi Congress Party. She fought for multiparty democratic rule in Malawi and was charged with treason, tried and sentenced to death by the authoritarian Kamuzu Banda regime. She spent 12 years on death row. She was married to lawyer Orton Chirwa
Orton Chirwa
Orton Chirwa, born Orton Edgar Ching'oli Chirwa on 30 January 1919, was a lawyer and political leader in colonial Nyasaland and after independence became Malawi's Minister of Justice and Attorney General. After a dispute with Malawi's autocratic president Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, he and his...
, Malawian Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
Political career
In the early 1950s, Vera Chirwa joined forces with Rose ChibamboRose Chibambo
Rose Lomathinda Chibambo was a prominent politician in the British Protectorate of Nyasaland in the years leading up to independence as the state of Malawi in 1964, and immediately after...
to form the Nyasaland African Women's League, which worked with the Nyasaland African Congress
Nyasaland African Congress
The Nyasaland African Congress was an organization that evolved into a political party in Nyasaland during the colonial period. The NAC was suppressed in 1959, but was succeeded in 1960 by the Malawi Congress Party, which went to on decisively win the first universal suffrage elections in 1961,...
to gain Nyasaland
Nyasaland
Nyasaland or the Nyasaland Protectorate, was a British protectorate located in Africa, which was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Since 1964, it has been known as Malawi....
's separation from the unpopular Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, also known as the Central African Federation , was a semi-independent state in southern Africa that existed from 1953 to the end of 1963, comprising the former self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia and the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia,...
.
She became Nyasaland's first female lawyer, and was a founding member of the Malawi Congress Party
Malawi Congress Party
The Malawi Congress Party is a political party in Malawi.It was the successor to the Nyasaland African Congress , which was banned in 1959.The MCP was founded by Hastings Banda and other NAC leaders in 1960....
in 1959.
After Nyasaland gained self-government in 1961 and became the independent state of Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
two years later, Orton Chirwa
Orton Chirwa
Orton Chirwa, born Orton Edgar Ching'oli Chirwa on 30 January 1919, was a lawyer and political leader in colonial Nyasaland and after independence became Malawi's Minister of Justice and Attorney General. After a dispute with Malawi's autocratic president Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, he and his...
, Vera’s husband became a senior figure in the new government as Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
After having a falling out with Kumuzu Banda, Vera Chirwa and Orton Chirwa
Orton Chirwa
Orton Chirwa, born Orton Edgar Ching'oli Chirwa on 30 January 1919, was a lawyer and political leader in colonial Nyasaland and after independence became Malawi's Minister of Justice and Attorney General. After a dispute with Malawi's autocratic president Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, he and his...
were declared enemies of the state. They went into exile shortly after.
Exile and capture
The couple were forced into exile in TanzaniaTanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
a few weeks later by the authoritarian Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda. They lived in Tanzania, but traveled to Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
, Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and the United States of America.
On Christmas Eve 1981, Vera and Orton Chirwa
Orton Chirwa
Orton Chirwa, born Orton Edgar Ching'oli Chirwa on 30 January 1919, was a lawyer and political leader in colonial Nyasaland and after independence became Malawi's Minister of Justice and Attorney General. After a dispute with Malawi's autocratic president Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, he and his...
were kidnapped in the East of Zambia by Malawi security forces and taken back to Malawi to face charges of high treason. The Chirwas, both lawyers, conducted their own defence. After a trial lasting 2 months, they were found guilty even though the evidence against them had not been proved. They were both sentenced to death. On the day of the trial Vera defiantly raised her hand to speak and looking the magistrate straight in the eye asked him on what grounds they were accused. Questioning the court was forbidden and the response she received was, "Nothing but you are culprit!".
The couple were taken to the notorious central prison in Zomba (a prison with a terrible reputation). According to Chirwa, "En route we forgave the people who gave false testimonies, the judges and even the President." It was the last time they traveled together.
Imprisonment and release
Conditions in the female ward were tough. Vera was subjected to torture and other forms of brutality. She slept on the cement floor, refused to eat the vile food, and was denied visitors, letters from her husband and the right to go outside. She remained in prison on death row for 12 years but remained hopeful for release. She credits her Christian faith for enabling her to keep hope and faith.In 1990 Amnesty International launched an urgent action to release Orton and Vera. In autumn 1992, when a delegation of British legal experts was allowed to pay them a visit, the Chirwas were allowed to see one another again for the first time in 8 years. Ortan died in his cell 3 weeks later at the age of 73. She was not able to attend the funeral.
President Kamuzu Banda, appointed for life, pardoned her for "humanitarian reasons", and she was released on January 24, 1993 when the country was transitioning to a multi-party state following the end of Banda’s dictatorial regime..
Human rights activism
Twelve years of prison coupled with physical and mental torture did not conquer her will or end her life. Since 2000 she has been Special Reporter on prison conditions in Africa for the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. She also founded the NGO Malawi Centre for Advice, Research and Education on Rights (Malawi CARER) and heads this organization. She campaigns for an end of the death penalty. She has continued her fight for human and political rights under the Bakili MuluziBakili Muluzi
Elson Bakili Muluzi is a Malawian politician. He was the President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004 and was Chairman of the United Democratic Front until 2009.-Presidency:...
and the Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika is a Malawi economist who is President of Malawi. He took office on 24 May 2004 after winning a disputed presidential election...
governments. She also works for Womens Voice, a gender rights organization.
Political activism
Vera Chirwa continues to fight for political rights and has attempted to stand as an independent candidate for president, a challenging task in a country with a party system for someone who is not an established politician.Vera Chirwa Human Rights Award
The Vera Chirwa Human Rights award is awarded by the Centre for Human RightsCentre for Human Rights
The University of Pretoria Faculty of Law was established in 1908 and consists of five academic departments, six centers, a law clinic and it's own publisher the Pretoria University Law Press...
at the University of Pretoria
University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria is a multi campus public research university located in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa...
in South Africa to an individual “who best epitomises the true African human rights lawyer” and has “made an outstanding contribution to the protection and promotion of human rights in Africa.” Recipients are alumni of the Master of Laws programs in Human Rights and Democratization at the University of Pretoria.
- Human rights lawyer and Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) executive director Gabriel Shumba - 2009