Mr Chivaura, an admitted legal practitioner, was allocated a pro deo murder case (S v Bizeck Ndlovu CRB 66/10) by the Registrar of the High Court. He drafted and submitted a detailed defence outline for the accused. When the trial was about to commence, both State counsel and the legal practitioner informed the court that the trial could not proceed as the accused could not be located. Upon inquiry by Cheda J, Mr Chivaura confessed that he had not seen the accused and had not personally taken instructions from him. He stated that he had drafted the defence outline solely by relying on the accused's warned and cautioned statement to the police. At the time of writing the judgment, he still had not seen his client.
1. Mr Chivaura was excused from representing the accused (Bizeck Ndlovu) in the matter. 2. The Law Society of Zimbabwe was directed to investigate Mr Chivaura's conduct in this matter.
A legal practitioner must personally take instructions from a client before representing them in court. This duty exists to: (1) verify the client's identity; (2) ascertain the client's capacity to give instructions and identify any legal disabilities; and (3) provide frank and honest advice. Drafting a defence outline based solely on a warned and cautioned statement without meeting the client constitutes a material misrepresentation to the court and is prima facie unbecoming and unprofessional conduct amounting to negligence. A legal practitioner must perform their duties with diligence and competence; failure to do so constitutes negligence, and where it has a sting of impropriety, amounts to misconduct. The seriousness of the charge (murder potentially carrying capital punishment) heightens the duty of care required of the legal practitioner.
The court observed that the consequences of such material misrepresentation could include contradictions arising between the accused's warned and cautioned statement and the defence outline, which may lead the trial court to adversely conclude that the accused is not a credible witness. The court noted that in accepting a pro deo matter, the legal practitioner assumes a duty to act in the best interests of his client and must employ all his skills to assist the client. The court emphasized that a legal practitioner should be reasonably satisfied of the client's identity and capacity to instruct, which is the main reason why he should see the client personally.
This case is significant in Zimbabwean legal ethics jurisprudence as it establishes clear standards for professional conduct by legal practitioners, particularly in pro deo criminal matters. It emphasizes the mandatory duty of legal practitioners to personally meet clients, take direct instructions, and verify identity and capacity to instruct. The case reinforces that even in pro deo matters involving serious charges like murder, legal practitioners must maintain the highest standards of diligence, competence, honesty and professionalism. It demonstrates the court's willingness to exercise supervisory jurisdiction over legal practitioners and refer matters of professional misconduct to the Law Society for investigation. The judgment serves as a warning to practitioners that failure to meet basic professional obligations, particularly in serious criminal cases, will be treated as prima facie unprofessional conduct.