Times Of Swaziland: ZIM LAWYER MUST GO BACK  TO ZIMBABWE – LAW SOCIETY

ZIM LAWYER MUST GO BACK  TO ZIMBABWE – LAW SOCIETY
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BY MBONGISENI NDZIMANDZE  on 29/11/2017 05:01:00


MBABANE – While her countrymen are celebrating the dawn of a new era, a
Zimbabwean lawyer is embroiled in a court battle over her admission with the Law
Society of Swaziland (LSS).
The LSS contends that Pretty Mupfurutsa should go back to her home country to be
admitted there as Swaziland already had a large number of lawyers and she did
not meet all the requirements since she was a foreigner.
Mupfurutsa filed an application to be admitted and enrolled as an attorney of
the High Court of Swaziland but the LSS is opposing the application.
In his opposing affidavit, LSS Secretary General Bongani Mdluli averred that the
petitioner (Mupfurutsa) was not a Swazi citizen nor was she an ordinary resident
within the Kingdom of Swaziland.
Mdluli pointed out that Section 6 of the Legal Practitioners Act provides that a
person to be admitted as a legal practitioner must be a citizen of Swaziland or
ordinary resident in Swaziland.
He said the permit which Mupfurutsa alleged to have did not entitle her to work
and/or be admitted as an attorney of Swaziland.
“Your petitioner (Mupfurutsa) holds a temporary permit’ Dependent Pass’ 
issued under the Immigration Act of 1982 and is not entitled to engage in any
employment, occupation or profession, whether or not for remuneration or profit
without the written approval of the Immigration Act 1982.”
Mdluli argued that in terms of the Immigration Act of 1982, a Dependent Pass was
an entry permit into the Kingdom of Swaziland falling under Class B.
The secretary general mentioned that Mupfurutsa wanted to practise  as an
attorney, notary public and as a conveyancer, something which was allegedly not
permitted.
Mdluli told the court that Mupfurutsa was not a Swazi citizen or ordinary
resident in Swaziland for purposes of admission in terms of the Legal
Practitioners Act.  He highlighted that Mupfurutsa was in Swaziland upon
dependency and not as an ordinary resident in Swaziland as required.