By Perpetua Murungweni
AGreat Zimbabwe University (GZU) law student has launched the Moot Society of Zimbabwe (MSZ), a platform designed to foster critical thinking, research, and advocacy skills among law students.
The launch was held on December 6, 2024, at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare.
The brains behind MSZ, Michelle Dliwayo, said the society is set to revolutionize the legal landscape in Zimbabwe, providing a much-needed platform for law students to hone their skills and prepare for successful careers in law, marking a new era in Zimbabwe’s moot court history.
“The MSZ aims to provide a national platform for mooting excellence and advocacy, enhancing experiential legal education through interactive learning and skills development among law students and young lawyers. It also seeks to promote collaboration and coordination among legal professionals and law students,” said Dliwayo.
She said having a national moot platform in Zimbabwe was embracing a global trend in legal education and would unite the five law universities in the country.
“We’ve always had moot societies or clubs within our universities, and it has always been every mooter’s dream to create a mooting community where we have a national platform. By launching a national moot platform, we are trying to create a legacy for future mooters and lawyers, and we are uniting five law universities under a shared vision. Most importantly, this transition elevates Zimbabwe’s profile in the global legal community.
“A national platform is not unique to Zimbabwe, so having a national platform is embracing a global trend in legal education,” she said.
Dliwayo serves as the founding president of the organization and is deputized by Aquila Moyo from the Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU).
Other executive members are Pamela Zengeni from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) as secretary, Watson Tonderai Somerai from the Midlands State University (MSU) as liaison, and Cute Mbirizi from ZEGU as treasurer.
Leratho Sangarwe from Africa University serves as the disciplinarian, while Nyasha Bhuza from UZ is the projects coordinator.
The Public Relations Officer is Zoleka Nyathi from MSU, while Tariro Gladys Chisoro from GZU and Joseph Matanda from Africa University (AU) serve as Media Relations Officers.
The launch was graced by representatives from various organizations and students from across the country, including the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), Ministry of ICT, Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Justice, Minister of State for Masvingo Province, and the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, among others.
