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Court Reporter
Three lawyers have been delisted from the legal practitioners’ roll while four law firms were closed following allegations of malpractice, abuse of trust funds and tarnishing the profession’s image, the Law Society of Zimbabwe has said. The deregistered lawyers are Tapera Sengweni, Tendai Hangazha, Taurai Mapfunde and Toindepi Mahaso while the closed law firms are JP Oberholzer, T Khumalo and Mahamba Law Chambers situated in Bulawayo and Gweru.

In a statement, LSZ executive secretary Mr Edward Mapara said the measures were taken after the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (LPDT) recommended to the society to take a tough stance towards errant lawyers.

“Take notice that in 2013, the LPDT ordered the de-registration of the lawyers and firms from the registers of legal practitioners, notaries public and conveyancers. The four can no longer hold themselves out as legal practitioners.

“They cannot take instructions, appear at police stations, prisons, courts or tribunals. The deregistered law firms are to remain shut and may no longer serve any client until further notice. All law firms which are yet to regularise their operations for the 2014 year are reminded to immediately comply as the next notice will order closure of all such firms,” said Mr Mapara.

However, the LSZ has since filed an application at the LPDT under case number 07/13 seeking an order to have another legal practitioner Mr David Mutsemi deregistered.

The delisting of the lawyers comes at a time when there is a public outcry over the proliferation of bogus and delisted lawyers  in practice.