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Fidelis Munyoro Chief Court Reporter
More than 400 lawyers from the Southern African Development Community region are expected to converge in Victoria Falls for this year’s 15th Annual Sadc Lawyers Association (Sadcla) conference that begins on Thursday. The conference will run under the theme “Strengthening the Rule of Law and Good Governance in the Sadc Region: A Call for Transparent and Accountable Leadership.”

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to officially open the conference with the keynote speaker being former president of Mozambique, Mr Joaquim Chissano.

The high-profile conference is expected to provide participants with a platform to explore the theme and debate how the rule of law and good governance can be strengthened in the region.

Panellists will be made up of high-level speakers including practising lawyers, judges, activists and academics.
In addition, there will also be workshops on law firm practice management and the legal profession.

Law Society of Zimbabwe president Mr Lloyd Mhishi said more than 400 lawyers and people associated with justice delivery from the 15 Sadc countries have confirmed their participation.

“It is the council of this association, which runs these annual events, but because it is being held in our country, the local association hosts,” said Mr Mhishi.

“So, we have been working on it since we won the bid in August last year in Malawi.
“So far I can say we are looking forward to a very successful conference.”

Turning on this year’s theme, Mr Mhishi said last year in Malawi the conference talked about Constitutions because constitutions were the buzzword in the region.

But this year, the focus shifted to rule of law and good governance.
“The council of Sadc lawyers association saw it fit to adopt this theme.

“There is now need for emphasis on transparency and accountability when it comes to leadership within the region,” he said.
Mr Mhishi said issues relating to media, women and women’s rights would also take centre stage at the conference.

Sadcla is a voluntary association made up of law societies, bar associations and individual lawyers from the regional bloc.
It is the authoritative and representative voice of the collective organised legal profession in Southern Africa.

It seeks to protect and promote the rule of law, democracy and good governance, human rights, international relations and organised development.