Vera Chirwa

Vera Mlangazua Chirwa (born 26 May 1932) is a Malawi-born lawyer and human and civil rights activist. She was Malawi's first woman lawyer and a founding member of the Malawi Congress Party and the Nyasaland African Women's League. She fought for multiparty democratic rule in Malawi and was charged with treason, tried and sentenced to death by President Kamuzu Banda. She spent 12 years on death row. She was married to lawyer Orton Chirwa, Malawian Minister of Justice and Attorney General, who later died in prison. She became Nyasaland's first woman 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.

Exile and capture The couple were forced into exile in Tanzania a few weeks later by 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. 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!". After the trial, the couple were taken to the central prison in Zomba. According to Chirwa, "En route we forgave the people who gave false testimonies, the judges and even the President." It was the last time she and her husband traveled together.

Imprisonment and release Conditions in the female ward were tough. Recipients are alumni of the Master of Laws programs in Human Rights and Democratization at the University of Pretoria.

Previous winners of the prize are:

2020: Prof Benyam Mezmur 2019 Journalist Joojo Cobbinah (Ghana) 2017: Melanie Smuts (South Africa) and Musu Bakoto Sawo (The Gambia) 2015: Prof Christopher Mbazira (Uganda) and Salima Namusobya (Uganda) 2014: Leda Hasila Limann (Ghana) 2013: Augustin Kounkiné Somé (Burkina Faso) 2012: Dr Lilian Chenwi (Cameroon) 2012: Monica Mbaru (Kenya)