Online ReporterFidelis Munyoro
Chief Court Reporter
The Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has raised alarm over the rise in fraudulent lawyers and pseudo-legal service providers deceiving the public and vanishing with their money.
These individuals tarnish the reputation of a profession built on trust and integrity.
Law Society president Mr Lison Ncube urged the media to play a critical role in exposing these scams and protecting the public from further exploitation.
Mr Ncube thanked authorities for their swift action in addressing reported cases but emphasised the need for more collaborative efforts.
He highlighted the importance of public vigilance, urging people to verify legal practitioners’ credentials, demand valid practicing certificates, and ensure payments are made within law firm offices with proper trust receipts.
“This is not just a precaution, it is a right every citizen should exercise,” he said during a journalists’ training workshop held last Friday.
The society’s website continues to provide updated lists of registered legal practitioners and those suspended or deregistered.
This resource, Mr Ncube said, is a vital tool for the public to avoid falling victim to imposters.
He also cautioned journalists against using complaints lodged with the Law Society to settle scores, reminding them that reported individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A report to the society would only initiate an investigation.
“To suggest otherwise, unfairly destroys careers and reputations,” he said.
While society investigates all complaints and disciplines lawyers where necessary, he noted that some complaints were frivolous, and urged patience to allow due process to run its course.
Administrative justice, Mr Ncube stressed, is built on the principles of natural justice and due process. The LSZ adheres strictly to these principles, ensuring no errant lawyer escapes accountability.
He acknowledged that the society’s processes might seem lengthy, but explained that they were dictated by existing laws.
“The wheels of administrative justice may turn slowly, but they do turn,” he reassured stakeholders.
The training workshop also included officials from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), who provided insights into combating corruption in the justice sector. This collaboration reflects the LSZ’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the legal system.
Mr Ncube emphasised the media’s crucial role in fostering public confidence in the justice sector, which is essential for the country’s economic and social development. The LSZ’s partnership with ZACC aims to educate stakeholders on avoiding the pitfalls of corruption and safeguarding the justice system’s independence.
Mr Ncube stressed that corruption is a cancer eroding the justice sector’s credibility. He called on legal practitioners, journalists, and judicial officers to stand united against corruption, which undermines public trust in critical institutions.
“The justice sector is our domain, and we will do everything to protect its independence and integrity,” he said.
Such efforts, he added, are part of the LSZ’s corporate social responsibility to ensure the justice system serves the public effectively.
The LSZ remains committed to regulating the legal profession in the public interest and is working to reduce the backlog of complaints against its members.
