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NewsDay

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Disciplinary hearing looms for embezzling top lawyer

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PROMINENT Harare lawyer Tapiwa Mudambanuki, who was accused of fleecing his client of $30 000 in a botched property deal, is not completely off the hook

PROMINENT Harare lawyer Tapiwa Edson Mudambanuki, who was accused of fleecing his client of $30 000 in a botched property deal, is not completely off the hook, NewsDay has leant.

CHARLES LAITON SENIOR COURT REPORTER

The Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) is set to haul him before a disciplinary hearing to decide his fate in the legal fraternity.

Criminal charges against Mudambanuki were dropped this week at the Harare Magistrates’ Court after the complainant in the matter, Tonderai Nhika, deposed an affidavit withdrawing the matter on the basis that Mudambanuki had reimbursed him.

LSZ president Lloyd Mhishi welcomed Mudambanuki’s decision to repay his client, but he said the LSZ would meet to deliberate on the matter and map the way forward.

“Mudambanuki was suspended from practicing sometime in February this year and his suspension has since expired. Therefore, his case is supposed to be decided by the council after receiving a report from the curator,” Mhishi said.

“It is good that he paid his client back and that will also be taken into consideration. Our principal aim is to protect the public and that can only be done by dealing with each matter on its merit.”

Mudambanuki was accused of swindling Nhika after he had been engaged to facilitate a $250 000 property deal five years ago.

It is alleged, the embezzlement happened sometime in 2009 when Mudambanuki was engaged by one Denford Mugauri in a civil dispute that emanated from Mugauri’s failure to repay a mortgage loan to Zimplast (Private) Ltd.