Atupele Masanjala and Gonjetso Dikiya

Law Students to Compete in Global Human Rights Competition

Two students from the Law Faculty, Atupele Masanjala and Gonjetso Dikiya, have qualified for the 9th Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition to be held at Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland from 18 to 21 July 2017.The Competition is organised by the Centre for Human Rights, based at the University of Pretoria, with the support of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, in collaboration with the Regional Office for Southern Africa of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (ROSA).

According to Masanjala, the competition provides them with an opportunity to fine tune their lawyering skills and she promised to bring the top prize to Malawi. On his part, Dikiya observed that such competitions are good for universities as they help to put participating institutions on the map.On his part, Dr. Enoch Chilemba, a lecturer in the Law faculty, who also acts as the students’ coach, expressed optimism in the team that Chancellor College is sending to Geneva. Chilemba further said that the practical exercise that the students will undergo promises to be an eye opener which will add value to their academic life.

In this competition, Africa will be represented by University of Malawi’s Chancellor College, University of Pretoria, Midlands State University of Zimbabwe, Strathmore University of Kenya and Great Zimbabwe University.The 2017 Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition will include a one-day event, designed to expose students to the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as the Human Rights Council. This will involve personal interaction with senior staff members of both institutions who are involved key activities and processes.