Zimbabwe commits to state-funded legal aid, a lawyer explains

Zimbabwe’s government has announced that it will open up legal access for those who cannot afford.

“Cabinet approved the Principles of the Legal Aid (Amendment) Bill, 2022,” said Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa in a media briefing on Tuesday.

“The Bill seeks to amend the Legal Aid Act (Chapter 7:16),” Mutsvangwa continued. “The amendment will make State-funded legal aid more accessible to all persons who require it, but are unable to afford legal practitioners of choice.”

Harare-based lawyer Panashe Sagwete, said while one needed to wait for the bill, there was an indication of how it would work.

“Basically there is the NPA right, national prosecuting authority that prosecutes on behalf of the complainant ‘state funded’,” Sagwete said.

“Complainants do not pay anything. I am assuming the govt wants to open up state funded institutions where they will pay lawyers to represent people as well,” she contained.

“Remember the cheaper option in Zimbabwe is legal aid but which require people to pay subs per month.

“So my guess would be people would be getting legal aid free free state sponsored. Like in the movies.” she concluded.