HARARE - Jacob Mudenda, the Speaker of the National Assembly, has joined new Advocates’ Chambers, comprising of some of the best legal professionals in Zimbabwe.
Lewis Uriri, chairman of The Chambers (Advocates of Zimbabwe) confirmed the development yesterday.
“We basically drew our members from previously practising advocates, who came from most of the chambers in Zimbabwe,” Uriri said.
“We had three advocates coming from the Advocates Chambers Association, one coming from the Harare Law Chambers, we had advocate Mudenda, who had previously been practising from the Bulawayo Bar and we have got three advocates, who practice in Bulawayo but are members of the chambers, advocate Lukas Nkomo, Perpetua Dube and Hilda Moyo.”
The chamber was formed by some of the advocates who were previously with the Advocates Chambers, including Thabani Mpofu, who is the new chamber secretary of the general council.
Uriri said the previous advocates’ chambers was still operating and had its own members, just like the new chambers.
The new chamber has some of the best advocates, and boasts a well-equipped library, with books dating back as far as 1828, to the latest editions of law textbooks.
It also has an electronic library, with judgments from the rest of Africa.
“We have withdrawn our membership from the Bar Association of Zimbabwe,” Uriri said.
“We are affiliated to the Advocates Association of Zimbabwe, which is regulated and registered with the Law Society of Zimbabwe and the Advocates Association of Zimbabwe has got the Harare chapter and the Bulawayo chapter, which came together to form the General Council of the Bar Association of Zimbabwe, which represents the majority of the advocates in Zimbabwe,” Uriri explained.
The chamber, which becomes the biggest in the country with 14 advocates, comprises young and vibrant members.
The leadership of the organisation includes Rambai Chingwena, who is the treasurer, while Mudenda is an executive committee member.
Asked why they decided to form the new advocates chambers, Mpofu said, “Must there be a reason for progress?
“We want to give people with skill, competence and passion the opportunity and the dream to practise as an advocate. We believe all people who are able and willing should practise as advocates.”