Own Correspondent
GREAT Zimbabwe University (GZU) in the spirit of ensuring access to legal representation by all has offered free legal advice to 176 inmates in the province through its law clinic. The law clinic established in 2019 offers free legal services to the less privileged members of society, who cannot afford a lawyer. It also offers free legal education to communities, students and inmates, ensuring their right to fair trials.
Law Clinics do not only provide legal services to vulnerable communities, but also give space where law students acquire, develop and improve their clinical skills. As part of its activities, Great Zimbabwe University’s Law Clinic conducts outreach activities in rural and peri-urban communities, schools, prison coupled with community radio outreach sessions
The clinic has also mounted a help desk at Masvingo Magistrates’ Court and conducted mobile help desks at Gutu, Chivi, Bikita, and Zaka Magistrates’ Courts. Statistics from the Law Clinic help desks stationed at Masvingo, Chivi, Gutu, Bikita and Zaka Magistrates’ Courts indicate the initiative has so far assisted 837 indigent people with varying challenges.
Prison visits conducted in seven prisons in Masvingo Province saw 176 indigent inmates receiving free legal education and advice on bail applications, inheritance, domestic violence and maintenance.
The clinic visited 10 secondary schools in Masvingo District and offered free legal education on Children’s Rights, Child Marriages and Domestic Violence to over 1445 learners.
A total of 2742 participants in Chiredzi, Gutu and Masvingo District received legal education on Domestic Violence, Inheritance and Maintenance. The same initiative saw 200 participants receive one-on-one consultations.
The Law Clinic has conducted 24 radio sessions on several topics on Great Zimbabwe Campus Radio Station.
For one to get legal assistance, he/she should either be unemployed, a pensioner, living with disability or a child. A means test is carried out to assess one’s income and expenses. If one qualifies for assistance, the case will be assessed and a law officer will be allocated to handle the case. The law officer will decide the service to be given to the person and the assistance will be provided until the case is closed.
The clinic assists clients who qualify for legal aid in cases of child rights violations, women rights, person with disability’s rights violations, divorces, evictions, general contractual and delictual civil claims, collections and debt collections, maintenance and family violence matters.
Those who are in need of legal services from the GZU Law Clinic can visit them at Mucheke Campus or call them on +263392260789, or mobile +263772259433
Email dmusebenzi@gzu.ac.zw
