derick.khumalo
Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
THE Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has strengthened the country’s representation in the regional legal fraternity after its president, Mr Lison Ncube, and vice president, Ms Rachel Chibaya, were elected to the Executive Council of the Southern African Development Community Lawyers’ Association (SADC-LA).
The two were elected during the association’s annual general meeting held in Mozambique, which concluded this past week.
Their election is a significant endorsement of Zimbabwe’s legal profession and places the country at the centre of regional efforts to promote the rule of law, good governance and the independence of the legal profession across Southern Africa.
SADC-LA is a voluntary association comprising law societies, bar associations and individual legal practitioners from the 15-member Southern African region.
It is the only organisation that brings together lawyers from across the sub-region, making it the authoritative and representative voice of the collective legal profession in Southern Africa.
The association was established in 1999 following an inaugural meeting of regional lawyers held in Maputo, Mozambique.
At its inception, the organisation’s headquarters were based in South Africa under the stewardship of the Law Society of South Africa.
In 2003, the secretariat relocated to Botswana, where it was registered under that country’s Societies Act.
The headquarters later returned to South Africa in 2011 before being registered as a non-profit company under the South African Companies Act in July 2012.
Over the years, SADC-LA has played a leading role in strengthening, defending and advancing the rule of law, constitutionalism, human rights and access to justice across the SADC region.
It has also been actively involved in regional and international initiatives aimed at promoting judicial independence, legal reform and professional development among legal practitioners.
The election of Mr Ncube and Ms Chibaya is expected to enhance Zimbabwe’s contribution to the association’s programmes while providing the country with a stronger voice in shaping legal and governance issues affecting the Southern African region.
