Chief Justice Richard Banda President of the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association from 2000-2003

Chief Justice Richard Banda was the Chief Justice of Malawi until December 2002 and is now in private practice. Justice Richard Banda, SC is a barrister at law, having been called to the Bar by the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn in July 1966. After his call to the Bar, he entered the Malawi Government Legal Service where he served in different capacities until 1970 when he was appointed the Director of Public Prosecutions. During this period, he was asked to act as Solicitor General and Secretary for Justice. In April 1972 he was appointed Attorney General, and later in the same year, he was created Senior Counsel and was the first Malawian to be so honoured after Independence. He served in this capacity for two years until 1974, when he was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General and was also responsible for the Portfolio of Local Government. He served in these capacities until February 1976, when he left Government. He stayed out of practice for four years until April 1980, when he was re-appointed into the Judicial Service to fill the new office of Chief Resident Magistrate which had been created. He served in this position for nine months, until November 1980, when he was appointed a Judge of the High Court and Supreme Court of Malawi. He served in this position until February 1992, when he was appointed Chief Justice of Malawi. He continues to serve in this position up to this time. Chief Justice Richard Banda was appointed an Honorary Life Fellow of the Society of Advanced Legal Studies, a constituent organisation of the University of London. He has also recently been invited and is an Honorary Master of the Bench of the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn. Chief Justice Richard Banda has been a keen sportsman in the past. He played soccer and captained the National Team and was also an athlete, having represented Malawi in the High Jump. Chief Justice Richard Banda is a former President of the Football Association of Malawi and he is the current President of the Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association of Malawi. He enjoys watching sports and now plays golf.


He was the President of the Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges' Association (CMJA) from 2000-2003.

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IOC trophy award to the First Gentleman Chief Justice Richard Banda

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has awarded Chief Justice Richard Banda SC (RTD) with a trophy as part of recognition for his constant contribution, support and development of the Olympic Movement in Malawi. The 2013 IOC “150th anniversary of Pierre de Coubertin, sport as a school of life” trophy has been awarded to the First Gentleman, an honorary member of the Malawi Olympic Committee.

Banda received the award on Tuesday at a function that took place at Kamuzu Palace. Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) vice president, Flora Mwandira presented the Trophy, in the presence of other Executive Board Members of the committee.

He was also presented with another award, the Olympic Wreath, in commemoration of the just ended Malawi’s first ever Mini “Olympic” Games which took place in Lilongwe last week.

Speaking during the presentation MOC vice president Mwandira said the award is one way of recognizing the first gentleman for his support towards the committee.

“All this was done in the spirit of recognition of his constant contribution, support and development of the Olympic Movement in Malawi” said Mwandira.

During the function the First Gentleman made a personal donation of One Million Malawi Kwacha (K1m) towards the just ended Mini “Olympic” Games.
Mwandira said the donation has come at a right time as Moc was struggling to pay expenses incurred during the games.

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