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Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
THE Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal has barred Mr Bruce Mujeyi from practising as a lawyer and deleted his name from the register of legal practitioners.

Mr Mujeyi, who stole trust funds amounting to $38 000 before claiming to be a psychiatric patient, was found to be unfit to practise law.

He also failed to represent his clients despite being paid, a development that resulted in some clients losing their cases.

Justice Chinembiri Bhunu, sitting with Justice Felistus Chatukuta, placed Mr Mujeyi’s law firm Bruce Mujeyi Attorneys under curatorship.

The Law Society of Zimbabwe successfully applied for deregistration of Mr Mujeyi after receiving numerous complaints of malpractices from his clients.

On January 24 2012, LSZ received a complaint from Mr Kenias Chawadya, who accused Mr Mujeyi of failing to account for trust funds to the tune of $18 980.

Mr Chawadya alleged that Mr Mujeyi had negligently failed to appear at a hearing, resulting in a default judgment being entered against his company in a labour case.

When confronted about the money, Mr Mujeyi admitted liability and promised to repay before fleeing to South Africa.

On May 17 2010, Mr Mujeyi accepted to represent a company called Elcombes in an eviction case but did not take any action to represent his client.

Having failed to represent Elcombes, Mr Mujeyi is said to have refused to surrender the file of the matter for other lawyers to take over.

On March 12 201,; Gill, Godlonton and Gerrans law firm wrote to the LSZ twice complaining that Mr Mujeyi had failed to file a plea on behalf of his client, Paul Gary Friendship, resulting in the client being barred from filing any opposing papers.

On November 14 2011, the LSZ received a complaint that Mr Mujeyi had received $30 750 from Cindy Stains of Kennan Properties for the purpose of paying utility bills.

Instead, Mr Mujeyi only paid $11 430 and converted the balance of $19 320 to his own use before sneaking out of the coun- try.

Responding to the allegations, Mr Mujeyi narrated to the tribunal the stress that he went through including marital problems.

He narrated his misfortunes and stressful experiences begging for mercy.

Mr Mujeyi also told the tribunal that he had been harassed by some members of the Central Intelligence Organisation after he crossed swords with an unnamed minister.

To that end, Mr Mujeyi indicated that he required psychiatric attention and should be for- given.

But the tribunal held that Mr Mujeyi was no longer fit for the profession.

“For starters, he claims to be a psychiatric patient in need of treatment and rehabilitation,” ruled Justice Bhunu. “He admits to having conducted himself in an improper, dishonest, unworthy and dishonourable conduct in the course of his duties.

“It does not matter to me whether or not the misbehaviour was occasioned by stress or psychiatric problems. The bottom line is that he is not a fit and proper person to practise the noble profession of law.”