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Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
MIDLANDS State University (MSU) has introduced a Diploma in Paralegal Studies with the support of Transparency, Responsiveness, Accountability and Citizen Engagement (TRACE).

The TRACE programme, which is led by UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), is a multi-donor programme that is aimed at improving access to media and information, advocacy for electoral reform, human rights and equality and transparency.

Speaking at the launch of the programme at MSU main campus in Gweru last week, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said his ministry was optimistic that the programme will produce graduates that will augment access to justice for citizens ,particularly women, children, the poor and other marginalised groups.

He said paralegals are there to complement legal practitioners, and the concept was first developed by law firms to provide research, investigation and assistance adding that the diploma’s curriculum was tailor made to meet the needs of stakeholders in the justice delivery system.

“It is our hope as a ministry that the diploma programme will produce cadres that will augment access to justice for our citizens, particularly women, children, persons with disabilities, the poor and other vulnerable and marginalised groups,” said Minister Ziyambi.

In Zimbabwe, he said, the concept of paralegals was first developed by law firms, who referred to them as legal document assistants, personnel assistants or legal secretaries.

“Initially, they were referred to as legal document assistants, personal assistants or legal secretaries.

“They would work under the supervision and control of legal practitioners. Paralegals are, thus, professionally trained in the delivery of various legal services, but are not legal practitioners. This distinction between legal practitioners and paralegals must, however, be underlined. The two do not compete with each other, they complement each other,” the minister said.

He said the diploma programme is targeting candidates, who are already employed in various organisations offering legal aid, such as Legal Resource Foundation, Musasa Project and Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association.

Minister Ziyambi said the scope of employment for paralegals has increased as their skills are required in parastatals, quasi-State institutions and the police.

MSU Vice Chancellor Professor Victor Muzvidziwa said the institution had already started enrolling students for the diploma programme.

“Having satisfied the university requirements to offer the diploma programme in partnership with the Transparency, Responsiveness, Accountability and Citizen Engagement (TRACE), our Faculty of Law enrolled the first intake of 28 students on July 24, 2017.

“We want to buttress the offerings of the Faculty of Law through short courses that up-skill and enhance the competencies of lifelong learners, who are already employed in various organisations offering legal aid,” he said.