Legal Sector loses its gloss

Alois Vinga – Extra Correspondent
Poor salaries and unviable working conditions have hit Zimbabwe’s legal sector hard as many law firm employees are pocketing between US$100 and US$300, it has emerged. Despite the high esteem in which many in the legal profession are held, the sector is not as rewarding as it appears on sight.

In an interview, legal practitioner Mr Alec Bamu said: ‘‘Most law firm employees are not offered any funeral schemes, pensions, and housing and transport allowances. What further worsens the situation is that the conditions of employment in most law firms are insecure as employees can be fired at any time.’’

A legal secretary, Mr Peter Nyemba, echoed the same sentiments.
“We are hardest hit by general oppression in issues of payments, and the deplorable fact is that we have nowhere to report our grievances. At the same time there is no salary grade for most of us who are non-lawyers.

“Most messengers employed by the firms have to walk up and down the streets delivering mail and at the end of the month most of the messengers earn around US$150 . . . In some instances a legal secretary does all the donkey work, which includes preparation of defence papers, but we on average earn not more than US$500 despite the thousands raked in weekly.’’

Investigations by this writer revealed that salaries for non-lawyers are at the discretion of partners at law firms.
“The worrying fact is that we are advised to report any grievance to the Law Society of Zimbabwe, whose officials do not aggressively deal with the matters. There is also a great rift within the LSZ due to very sensitive conflict of interest since those within the body who are supposed to represent us happen to be partners or owners of law firms. Where can we enjoy due credibility and impartiality?” asked a legal assistant.

Even lawyers are complaining about the poor returns in their profession.
Lawyer Mr Blessing Pwanyiwa said: “It is now a matter of gaining experience because the remuneration we are receiving is not worth the effort invested. Most senior lawyers in the industry are taking advantage of junior lawyers. Of course, I understand there are a lot of economic challenges in the country but most captains in the legal industry are simply hiding behind a finger. The cash inflows in most cases do not match the salary structures.’’

The president of the Legal Practitioner Employees and Allied Workers Association and Social Benefits Trust of Zimbabwe, Mr Tawanda Zhanje, said the list of grievances was long.

“There is need to bring together all relevant stakeholders in the legal industry in order to advocate and maintain a pension fund for all legal practitioners and their support staff through social benefits mobilisation, initiating and implementing a social fund in health, education and housing spheres.

“There is also need to share learning experiences and expertise with other local or foreign organisations and individuals who are involved in the promotion and protection of the livelihood of legal employees,” he said.

Efforts to get a comment from the Law Society of Zimbabwe were fruitless at the time of writing.