IBJ-Zimbabwe Fellows, Innocent Maja and John Burombo, recently held a roundtable discussion with officers from the Legal Aid Directorate (hereafter “LAD”), the government entity responsible for legal aid, with a view to identify ways of improving legal aid accessibility in Zimbabwe. The frank and engaging discussion, which occurred on 22 October, gave lawyers from the LAD a platform to voice their opinions on the challenges they are facing in their work, including lack of resources, lack of appreciation of the Directorate by other actors of the criminal justice system, poor conditions of service and lack of awareness of legal aid by citizens. Summarizing the discussion, one participant admitted the discussion “explored issues I had not thought about.”

After outlining the challenges being faced by the Directorate, the lawyers proposed ways to help improve the legal aid system. They agreed that that there was need to decentralize legal aid provision to other outlying areas of Zimbabwe, initially by having circuits and, eventually, establishing proper legal aid centres.

They also agreed that there was need to carry out a comprehensive rights awareness campaign to educate people about their right to legal representation. This would entail using both the print and electronic media, carrying out outreach programmes and utilizing community leaders like chiefs and members of parliament as a channel of communication. It was agreed that adequate funding of the Directorate was essential for it to be properly functional. They believed there was need to engage other criminal justice arms to make them appreciate and value the work of the Directorate.

The Legal Aid Directorate expressed its willingness to work with IBJ and with the other stakeholders of the criminal justice system to ensure justice for all citizens. This is an encouraging step as the Legal Aid Directorate was, until then, almost exclusively focused on civil law issues, the provision of criminal legal aid being restricted to serious cases such as murder. IBJ will continue to provide the necessary platform for this common goal to be achieved.

Above: Light moments. From Left to Right: Nelson Zvidai (Legal Aid Directorate Director), John Tawanda Burombo (IBJ Fellow) and Innocent Maja (IBJ Fellow and Country Manager) (Photo by Florence Chatira)

Above: Legal Aid Directorate Director, Nelson Zvidzai and IBJ Fellow and Country Manager Innocent Maja engaged in a candid discussion. (Photo by Florence Chatira).

Above: IBJ Project Administrator, Florence Chatira, finishing up preparations for the roundtable discussion. (Photo by John Burombo)