Zvobgo and Fransisca Midzi at Mucheke Clinic
Clayton Shereni
Great Zimbabwe University (GZU), with the aid of international development partners has launched a legal aid clinic in an effort to enhance access to justice and knowledge of the law for residents of Masvingo.
The law clinic was funded by the International Community of Jurists (ICJ) and European Union (EU) and will be stationed at GZU Mucheke Campus.
In a speech read on his behalf by EU Delegation to Zimbabwe programmes manager Fransisca Midzi, EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Timo Olkonnen said they were happy to partner GZU to establish the project.
“The EU is delighted and feels privileged to be associated with the university’s people-focused initiative, we are indeed privileged. This is a pioneering project of other legal clinics to come. The clinic will not only provide a service to the community but to the law students who will get practical training,” said Olkonnen.
Delivering his remarks during the launch, GZU Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo said the law clinic is there to serve the locals and remove the burden of traveling to town for legal services.
“I am pleased that the law school has chosen to locate the law clinic in Mucheke which is the most densely populated area thus taking away the need for many clients to travel and spend money on transport. The clients will have to walk to the clinic even from other suburbs like Rujeko,” said Zvobgo.
The launch was graced by the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Ezra Chadzamira, lawyers, GZU members of staff and law students.
Visitors took time to tour the premises of the law clinic and acquaint themselves with various things of law.
The clinic also received computers, furniture and stationery that will be used by law students to provide legal assistance to the community.
GZU’s Hebert Chitepo Law School has won many local and international prizes including the 2016 International Law School Mediation Tournament which was held in America.
