New Law Society of Zimbabwe President
17/01/2011 11:23:00
Harare, January 17, 2011 – Prominent human rights lawyer and Zimbabwe
Election Support Network (ZESN) board chairperson Tinoziva Bere has been
elected the new Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) president.
Prior to his elevation Bere of Bere Brothers Legal Practitioners based in
Mutare was LSZ’s vice president since 2009 and a councillor and committee
chairperson since 2001.
Lloyd Mhishi a councillor representing Harare and a partner with Dube
Manikai and Hwacha (DMH) is the new Vice President. Mhishi is also law
lecturer at the faculties of law of both University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and the
Midlands State University (MSU).
Bere replaces Josephat Tshuma who led the Law Society in drafting a Model
Constitution for Zimbabwe.
Speaking to RadioVOP Bere said, “I stand on a platform built by many
remarkable leaders, it is a solid platform and with the help of the 10
leaders that are the Council and the full complement of the secretariat as
well as an independent legal profession, I cannot fail…I am both excited
and humbled.”
“In addition it would be good if besides the statutory and practical
independence we enjoy as a profession could extend to financial independence
during my term. I also believe it is possible to improve effectiveness and
efficiency at the Secretariat level and for Council oversight to be more
effective,” he said.
Bere is also a part time university lecturer in Business Law, Company Law
and Ethics and Professionalism as well as a recognised human rights
activist. He is a past winner of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Lawyer Award
after organising interventions to offer legal assistance to victim of the
Chiadzwa Diamond Fields human rights violations and for his courageous and
successful defence of Farai Maguwu (a diamond activist persecuted by the
authorities between June and September 2010).