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Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
THE Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has issued a stern warning against lawyers who abuse social media, saying those involved will face disciplinary action.

In a statement, LSZ executive secretary Mr Edward Mapara said his organisation has noted with concern the unprecedented use of social media by its members in a manner that potentially prejudices the integrity of the legal profession.

“There has been an upsurge in the use of social media to discuss and publicise confidential information pertaining to clients’ cases in contravention of standing principles of confidentiality,” he said.

Mr Mapara said the LSZ council has adopted the International Bar Association (IBA) international principles on social media conduct for the legal profession as a guiding framework for its members to interact on social media.

“Members are being reminded to take note of these principles as they interact on social media. LSZ will be taking any violation of these issues seriously as acts of misconduct. Members are therefore being reminded to ensure that the manner in which they interact on social media conforms to these principles,” he said.

Mr Mapara said although the LSZ has not yet developed its own principles governing the conduct of lawyers on social media, they are a subscribed member of IBA. “By virtue of its membership, LSZ is bound by the ethos and values of IBA across all fields including social media conduct,” he said.

Meanwhile, LSZ said it has received complaints from licensed lawyers who are accusing legal aid societies of allegedly taking away legal work from its members through unscrupulous means.

Mr Mapara said some of the legal aid companies and societies are reportedly touting for clients at courts, prisons and police stations.

“They are unequally competing with licensed lawyers and LSZ intends to take urgent interventions to curb the mushrooming of these legal aid societies as part of restoring sanity,” he said. — @mashnets