ZIM LAWYER MUST GO BACK TO ZIMBABWE – LAW SOCIETY

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.

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