HARARE lawyer Munyaradzi Stanslus Bwanya is set to appear before the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ)’s disciplinary and ethics committee for miscount over allegations of practising law without a valid certificate, NewsDay has established.
Bwanya is being accused of practising unlawfully for close to a year.
LSZ has, through a letter dated September 6, confirmed investigating Bwanya’s alleged misconduct, adding that the case has been referred to the disciplinary and ethics committee for consideration.
“We have now referred your matter to the disciplinary and ethics committee for consideration. We undertake to furnish you with the council resolution once the same has been passed,” the letter read.
Bwanya’s alleged misconduct reportedly came to light in June and, according to LSZ, he operated without a licence from August 1, 2023 to May 9 this year, which was in breach of the Law Society Act.
In another letter dated May 27 LSZ said: “This letter serves to confirm that the above-named member applied for his 2024 Practising Certificate [PC] on April 11, 2024. The PC was issued on May 10, 2024. Our records indicate that he was not attached to any law firm during that period.
“Respondent was not licensed to practise from the period August 1, 2023 to May 9, 2024 as he had resigned from Jiti Law Chambers.”
Bwanya yesterday told NewsDay that he was not aware of the summons.
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He said he was only aware of complaints filed against him by Huruma and Mashonganyika related to other issues.
“I responded to them and the matter is being looked into by LSZ,” he said.
Bwanya also denied allegations that he had at some point practised without a certificate.
He said he could not share finer details as it might work against him in a court law since authorities were still investigating some of his matters.
Bwanya is on trial at the Harare Magistrates Court facing charges of forgery, perjury and trying to extort a residential stand located along Carrick Creagh in Borrowdale, Harare, from Mashonganyika.
The prosecution is alleging that in April 2022, Bwanya purported to be representing his client, Arosume Property Development when approached Moses Gumbochuma, who is Mashonganyika’s brother, and asked him to persuade her to give him 2 000m² from her stand.
Mashonganyika’s lawyer, Simbarashe’s Mukwekweza told Harare magistrate Lisah Mutendereki on Monday that Bwanya had approached his client in February this year purporting to be executing legal duties.
Takudzwa Jambawu is representing the State.
