The Zimbabwe Law Officers Association (Ziloa) executive has scoffed at threats by Attorney- General (AG) Johannes Tomana to withdraw their practising certificates for allegedly inciting members to take industrial action, arguing his inquiry had no legal basis.
Ziloa lawyer Harrison Nkomo said in terms of the powers conferred on the AG’s Office under the Constitution, he has no legal right to request for written responses from the Ziloa executive on their actions in the just-ended ‘‘legal” industrial action.
“Further to your letter of October 26 2011, we respond to the allegations as follows: We have considered the powers conferred upon your office by the Constitution together with our client’s contract of employment including the governing legislations. We have come to the conclusion that your inquiry or request has no foundation at law. To that end, our clients reserve their rights until such a time they are lawfully advised of the legal basis upon which the request is made,’’ wrote Nkomo to Tomana last Thursday.
Tomana acknowledged receipt of the letter the following day on Friday.
The AG is reportedly yet to respond to Ziloa’s lawyers.
Efforts to get a comment from Tomana on Monday hit a brickwall as he was said to be out of office.
The response by Ziloa follows Tomana’s threats on October 17 demanding the association’s executive president Leopold Mudisi, Patrobs Dube, Dereck Charamba, Musekiwa Mbanje and Mehluli Tshuma to explain their position individually.
In his letter, Tomana also demanded a written “response to allegations of unbecoming conduct not befitting a law officer” and asked them to explain why he should maintain his confidence in them and not withdraw their practising certificates.
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On October 4, Ziloa called for industrial action after reportedly giving their employer — the Public Service Commission (PSC) — a 14-day notice demanding their salaries to be revised in tandem with those of magistrates under the Judicial Service Commission.
They stated that they were not fighting the AG’s office, but were seeking redress from PSC.
