Former Zimbabwe minister barred from practising law

ZTN Correspondent

Zimbabwe’s former Youth Affairs Deputy Minister, Tongai Matutu, has been barred from practising law.

The latest Law Society of Zimbabwe Report shows that eight other lawyers were deregistered for various misdemeanours.

The report says Matutu, a deputy minister in Zimbabwe’s inclusive Government (2008-2013), “failed to carry out a mandate”.

Though ZTN News could not immediately ascertain the case, his suspension will run for three years.

Matutu could not be reached for comment.

LSZ president Thandaza Masiye Moyo told ZTN News, “Nine lawyers have been deregistered between August 2018 to date, and we have about 14 matters that are pending before the Legal Practitioners Tribunal.

“But what you would understand is that not all these 14 lawyers will necessarily plead to these matters that are pending.”

Amon Tendai Toto was deregistered after being found guilty of misappropriating trust funds and failing to maintain proper books of accounts.

Augustine Chizikani also misappropriated trust funds while Benjamin Machengete failed to “carry out client’s mandate despite being put in funds” and respond to correspondence from fellow legal practitioners and the LSZ Secretary. 

Further, Simbarashe Tawona was found guilty of misappropriating trust funds; and failing to execute clients’ mandate “despite being put in funds”, honour undertakings and respond to correspondence from the LSZ Secretary.

Obedience Machuvaire abused trust funds and failed to execute instructions timeously and honour an undertaking, according to the report.