46 lawyers de-registered

Harare, December 19, 2019 (New Ziana)-The Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) on Thursday announced the de-registration of nine lawyers for misappropriating trust funds and failing to maintain proper books of accounts among other issues.

The latest de-registration brings to 46 the number of lawyers that have been de-registered since 1997 due to failure to follow some of the ethics of their profession.

Among the de-registered were ruling Zanu PF Harare province chairperson Goodwills Masimirembwa and former MDC-T Member of Parliament for Masvingo Central Tongai Matutu who has been suspended for three years from practicing for failure to carry out a mandate.

Last year a total of six lawyers were deregistered.

LSZ secretary general Edward Mapara attributed the high number of lawyers who were de-registered this year to the society’s accelerated pace of investigations and prosecutions.

“The eight de-registered this year for misappropriation of trust funds are a small fraction of the LSZ membership. They are part of those who appeared before a tribunal between 2012-2019. The public can continue to trust lawyers.

“Lawyers are insured and the LSZ runs a compensation fund which ensures that any loses will be ameliorated,” he said.

The society recently reviewed fees that lawyers charge for various services.

But Mapara does not expect the new fees to prohibit clients from accessing legal representation.

“Expenses for doing business have been going up but people’s earnings have not moved in tandem hence they may find difficulties hiring lawyers,” he said.

New Ziana