Law Society of Zimbabwe operating during COVID-19
BEYOND the life-changing COVID-19 pandemic, the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has continued to function as expected, keeping a keen eye on events, especially those that affect the justice sector. As reports emerged of the outbreak of the coronavirus at the tail-end of 2019 and the beginning of the year in China, LSZ president Thandaza Masiye-Moyo met with journalists in Harare at a media cocktail, creating synergies with journalists from the country’s major publications. Since then, the society has had greater understanding and coverage for the LSZ’s events.
As part of the society’s policy of using diplomacy to get around problems, MasiyeMoyo led a delegation that included executive secretary Edward Mapara to meet with the police top brass, that included Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga.
The meeting came after several reports of harassment of legal practitioners in the line of duty as well as growing incidences of authorities denying lawyers access to their clients.
At the end of the meeting, an ad-hoc committee comprising the communications departments of the police and LSZ was established as part of efforts to continue consultations on key issues that affect both sides.
However, the COVID-19 outbreak affected progress in this regard. But the work continues and council as well as the secretariat have committed to continue exploring this in order to create a better and amicable working relationship between lawyers and authorities. With all stakeholders having agreed to constituting the committee, a draft terms of reference is now awaiting adoption at a planned meeting soon.
In February, Masiye-Moyo was once again in Harare for a high-level meeting with Speaker of the National Assembly. Advocate Jacob Mudenda, days after the society joined 12 other civil society organisations to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Legislature on working modalities around technical co-operation as well as assistance to this very important arm of the State.
It was a ground-breaking meeting in which views were openly exchanged. Mudenda called on the legal fraternity to do more in assisting Parliament in its quest to make sure all laws are aligned to the provisions of the 2013 Constitution.
Masiye-Moyo, accompanied by the executive secretary, promised to take up the challenge as part of the society’s quest to fully discharge its mandate without prejudice.
There were stakeholder consultative meetings in February with lawyers in the Midlands comprising Gweru, Kwekwe, Zvishavane and surrounding environs. The now iconic Walter Kamba Rule of Law Awards Dinner was held amid pomp and fanfare in Harare.
Given the awards were not held last year due to unforeseen circumstances, the first event winners were for 2019. It was envisaged at the time that another dinner would be held to make up for the 2020 winners.
However, it now looks more less likely given the coronavirus pandemic. In Harare, the society hosted lawyers in the NGO sector as well as lawyers in commerce in March before COVID-19 struck, forcing authorities to declare a national lockdown. The secretariat, however, continued to offer services with direction from the council.
Along the way, 2020 has been a dark period with the loss of a number of legal practitioners as shown in our other story elsewhere. Council, the secretariat and the ZimJuris editorial takes this opportunity to extend its sympathies to family and friends of the deceased colleagues.
The legal fraternity showed the way in working from home even before authorities announced the lockdown, council had already taken a decision to urge members to try to work virtually.
The response was tremendous and since then council and the secretariat have continued to hold meetings virtually with plans afoot to host this year’s Winter and Summer Schools virtually as well as the extra-ordinary general meeting at the time of writing.