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Anti-Corruption Trust suspends paralegal services

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THE Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-Southern Africa) has withdrawn its paralegal services to the marginalised members of the community following alleged complaints by private lawyers who felt threatened by their work.

THE Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-Southern Africa) has withdrawn its paralegal services to the marginalised members of the community following alleged complaints by private lawyers who felt threatened by their work.

BY STAFF REPORTER

ACT-Southern Africa wrote to the Resident Magistrate in Kwekwe and the Law Society of Zimbabwe on August 17 informing them of the suspension of the paralegal services to poor people who could not afford paying lawyers’ fees.

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ACT-Southern Africa, regional director, Alouis Munyaradzi Chaumba said his organisation would now focus on fighting corruption.

“(The) decision came out of complaints from private lawyers and other stakeholders who felt that some individuals approaching the centre have means to seek the assistance of private lawyers,” Chaumba said in a letter also copied to lawyers.

“Other complaints came from private lawyers taking instructions from other stakeholders who did not want the organisation to ‘keep an eye’ and report on their lack of accountability, transparency, integrity and other violations.”

The organisation, however, thanked some law firms that have been helping them out with dealing with complex cases.

ACT-Southern Africa added that it would continue entertaining complaints against corruption and hoped the suspension will now give it more time to focus on corruption cases.