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The Law Society Resource center, book section

In terms of section 53 of the Legal Practitioners Act Chapter 27.07, The Law Society is mandated inter alia to promote the study of law in Zimbabwe and to establish, support and maintain libraries and reading rooms and to circulate books, periodicals and other legal subjects. On the 1st of February the Law Society officially opened its first resource centre comprising of an electronic and book library in fulfilment of its mandate and objectives as set out in the Act.

Assistant Resident Representative  the resource centre as LSZ President looks on
 
In his welcoming remarks to the guests who attended the commissioning ceremony of the resource centre the President of The Law Society, Mr JosphatTshuma said that it is the intention of the Law Society to expand such a noble project throughout the country in order to avail resources to all members of the profession across the country in a bid to improve and the strengthen the capacity of the legal profession and quality of justice delivery system. He highlighted that the move is an endeavour to  fulfil and work an agreed position by stakeholders at the Inaugural Joint Colloquium for the Judiciary and members of the Legal Profession held in Victoria Falls in 2009 on the need to avail resources and training in order to close some of the gaps that impede the quality of justice delivery system  in Zimbabwe .He further informed the guests that as a way of taking strides towards expansion of the project the Law Society had already partnered with Legal Resources Foundation in Mutare by complimenting its existing book library with an electronic library which has updated case law authorities and statutes. The Leader of the Law Society ended by applauding the efforts of UNDP for supporting the Law Society to fulfil its mandate.


R-L:The LSZ President ,LRF National Director and LSZ Vice President  in respect of LRF Mutare Library

Dr Alex Zinhanga, the UNDP Assistant Resident Representative who was the Guest of Honour applauded The Law Society for its efforts in making sure that the resource centre is made to operate and continuously updated. He reaffirmed   the United Nations (UN) values that support access to justice and rights related to enforcement of remedies .He further said that UN recognises that the rule of law is neither a luxury nor a side issue. He further noted that without credible institutions to enforce the law and means to resolve disputes, people often resolve to violence and illegal means .Therefore the need to take a comprehensive approach to the justice, law and order sector, enfolding all relevant stakeholders is imperative. He highlighted that the approach adopted by UNDP is that the support to justice and related systems will work to oil the justice delivery machinery and ensure that lasting peace is secured while at the same time the poor and the disadvantaged benefit. He appreciably said that the resource centre will no doubt strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights and the rule of law by availing up to date and recent legal resources to the stakeholders in the justice delivery system in Zimbabwe .He added that the knowledge to be obtained from the resource centre will help directly and indirectly to promote the rule of law ,dialogue, participation in the constitution making and protection of human rights and will not only enhance the quality of a client‘s case but it will also  assist the judge or the magistrate presiding if well argued pleadings are filed before the court. Moreover, he said it will also work towards the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals by empowering the poor and disadvantages to enforce their rights, based on well argued cases before the courts resultantly poverty is reduced and human security enhanced

Dr Zinhanga also said that UNDP is supportive of initiatives that aim at raising the status of all people to ensure to that they fully enjoy their rights .He concluded by wishing the Law Society well and success in its noble project .The Vice President of The Law Society, Mr Tino Bere giving vote of thanks applauded UNDP for its support towards the establishment of the resource centre which he said will go a long way in improving the quality of justice delivery system in Zimbabwe. He said due to non availability of appropriate, relevant and updated resources some lawyers were resorting to unorthodox ways of citing nonexistent case law authorities thereby misleading the court to the detriment of principles of access to justice by all. Hence the establishment of the resource centre will provide useful materials that will enhance the quality of justice delivery system. He also applauded the efforts of the Royal Netherlands Embassy in keeping the Law Society intact through its support especially in most diffificult times.

The event was graced by His Worship Mayor of Harare, Much Masunda who is also a lawyer by profession, His Excellence Ambassador of Royal Netherlands Embassy, Joseph Weterings, government representatives, senior members of the legal profession and representatives from the civic society.

The resource centre has a sitting capacity of 20 people at a time and has ten internet connected computers with updated Zimbabwean and South African case law authorities. It also has a small printing area and is situated on the Law Society building commonly known as Lintas House,46 Union Avenue.

The computer section of the resource centre