CHIREDZI-The Law Society of Zimbabwe has warned a Chiredzi lawyer Naison Chirima that he must not act as a judge, Jury and Executioner.
By Staff Reporters
This followed an incident in which the lawyer assaulted an elderly disabled man before burning down a security boundary on his garden at the sewer ponds.
The disabled man, Chimbikidzai Dzinovatonga, whose left leg was amputated after he was hit by a landmine in Mozambique at the end of the war of liberation, is among Zanu pf youths and disabled people who were allocated gardens at the sewer ponds by the party in 2015.
To him, this was some form of compensation since he did not receive any compensation from Government.
From this garden, Dzinovatonga, who is married and has 7 children, survived from produce he got from this garden.
Chirima, a lawyer by profession, is claiming that he recently got an offer letter from the Ministry of Lands.
He also claims that the 0.3 garden that was cleared by Dzinovatonga now belongs to him. He went on to assault the disabled man, forcing him out of his garden before setting it on fire.
Dzinovatonga reported the matter to police who are awaiting a medical report from a doctor to process the docket.
The hostile lawyer did not stop at Chimbikidzai alone. He also burnt another garden that belongs to Artwell Munoyirarwa, a former driver at Tongaat Hullet safaris.
Speaking to this publication, Dzinovatonga said Chirima assaulted him with a log two weeks ago, when he approached him to enquire about why he had destroyed his garden.
“I approached him two weeks ago, asking him why he destroyed my garden and he assaulted me with a log. I got injured on my head and right hand.” said Dzinovatonga.
After learning that the disabled man had reported the matter to Police, Chirima opted for an out of court settlement and offered to give him another piece of land.
“He approached me and said I must shift my garden to the other side and I refused”, Dzinovatonga said.
In April this year, Dzinovatonga and others were taken by surprise when Chirima approached them armed with eviction summons. He told them that he was given an offer letter to own 90 hectres which extends throught to the gardens.
Dzinovatonga argued that his garden is within the jurisdiction of Chiredzi Town Council. He has been there for over 10 years.
Another victim of the evictions is Artwell Munoyirarwa , a former driver at Tongaat Hullet safaris.
He told this publication that according to his understanding, the land in question belongs to Hippo Valley estates.
“We have been farming on the land and Tongaat Hullet knows this. They only told us not to obstruct their cattle when they need to drink water. We have not yet received any notice from them, it’s now over 10 years.” said Munoyirarwa.
He also said he was surprised when he was summoned to court on June 17 2021 on false allegations of threatening Chirima with a firearm while on duty.
“I was surprised to receive summons from Chirima accussing me of threatening him with a firearm”, he said.
Asked for a comment, Chirima became agitated and answered Lowveld Checkpoint reporters who had visited him at the garden with a forked tongue.
“Go and write whatever you want.I don’t care. I have been in the newspares countless times. Check my name on Google, it’s Chirima all over”, he bellowed.
The Law Society warned the lawyer to act responsibly and also advised Dzinovatonga to make a formal complainant to them.
Richard Chidza, the Corperate Affairs and communications manager of the Law society of Zimbabwe, said the Law society of Zimbabwe expects legal practitioners to respect the rule of law.
“The Law Society expects legal practitioners to not only respect the rule of law and not arrogate on themselves the positions of judge, jury and executioner but also to act within the decorum required of them as professionals.
If there is suspicion of any ethical breach by the said member, the Law Society stands ready to receive an official complaint from the injured party and deal with it in the prescribed manner.” said Chidza.
