The Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has deregistered Bulawayo lawyer Lloyd Manokere for double-dipping after representing two parties who had conflicted interests.
Manokere, who is the founder of Manokere Attorneys DLA Piper Africa Zimbabwe, was last month convicted for misconduct after he appeared before a tribunal consisting of justices Felistus Chatukuta and Joseph Musakwa.
His deregistration was confirmed last Friday by LSZ spokesperson Richard Chidza. Said Chidza:
Yes, he has been deregistered as of April 15.
Manokore Attorneys has, however, expressed displeasure over the verdict through a letter sent to the LSZ, dated April 15. It said in its letter of appeal:
We are extremely disappointed by the tribunal’s ruling and we have appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.
We continue to refute the allegations as well as the sentence. Pending the outcome of the Supreme Court appeal, the partners have appointed Jabulani Nhongo as the managing partner of the firm.
Nhongo will, together with the executive committee of the firm, conduct the business of the firm.
Manokere’s case arose after one Perkins Zhawari and his wife on 20 June 2016 submitted a complaint to the LSZ against him.
The complainants were the owners of immovable property, Lot 2 of Stand Number 91M Bellevue Township in Bulawayo which was sold by Manokere without their consent to National Foods.
Making the ruling in the case in which the LSZ was the applicant, Justice Chatukuta said Manokore unlawfully acted at the same time for two different parties where the interests of the parties were conflicted or were bound to be conflicted. The judge said:
He sold the immovable property of a client without the client’s authority or an order of the court. After selling the property and receiving the purchase price he failed to remit the balance of the purchase price to the client. He instead forwarded the money to the client’s creditor without the client’s consent.
He further disregarded the instructions of the client to revoke a power of attorney. The respondent’s conduct was unprofessional, dishonourable, and unworthy, warranting the deletion of his name from the register of the Legal Practitioners, Notaries and Conveyancers.