The clients who spoke to The Mirror in interviews
castigated the Law Society for not acting despite numerous complaints.
According to documents in the hands of The Mirror, Doreen
Vundhla Phulu a principal partner in Vhundhla Phulu and Partners was engaged by
different clients in conveyancing and other legal services who later lost
properties and money through alleged forgery, misuse of money, negligence,
misrepresentation and unauthorised discounts and payments in RTGS not agreed
upon by clients.
Clients also complained that Phulu would not bank money she
received on behalf of her clients and she did not keep proper accounting
records. In one case Phulu allegedly sold a property of her client twice
resulting in a prejudice of US$15 000 to one of buyers.
Efforts to get a comment from Phulu were futile as her
number was continuously unreachable.
The Mirror then spoke to the curator Vonani Majoko who has
now taken over Phulu’s pending cases. He said it’s unfortunate that some people
are not aware of the procedures.
“I have received complaints and I will finish my report as
soon as they are complete and LSZ will take appropriate action. They should not
think that I want to conceal the evidence before the matter is finalised,” he
said.
Richard Chidza the Corporate Communication Manager for the
Law Society of Zimbabwe said the law firm is under investigation and currently
under the curator. “The law firm is under curatorship and investigations are
still ongoing. We will furnish you with details as soon as they are complete,”
said Chidza.
Getrude Tshabalala of Riverside Bulawayo complained that
she contracted Phulu for conveyancing
for 10 plots owned by her and her three children; Leornard, Linet and
Lloyd Tsabalala. The plots had a total value of US$245 000 and she was
allegedly prejudiced through false documents by the lawyer, concealing
important information, failure to present complete statements of accounts and
failure to produce.
Tshabalala said complained that Phulu failed to produce
documents for the payment of US$55 000 she made to a Mr Sithole for the
servicing of land in the form of construction of roads and water supply.
Tsahabalala had complaints with all the 10 plots sold on
her behalf by Phulu.
Netsai Magunda complained to Law Society that in 2017, she
and her brother Kutamahufa engaged Phulu to prepare an agreement of sale of a
property that they wanted to purchase
Stand 153 and 154 Matsheumhope Bulawayo. After signing the agreement of
sale they only realised in 2019 that Phulu had transferred the property into
another person’s name.
Magunda has allegedly failed to recover her US$15 750.
Viola Chagweka complained that she engaged Phulu to do her appeal case at the
Supreme Court. Phulu demanded payment upfront within four days and this was
done. After serving the other parties the Supreme Court allegedly called her to
provide a copy with the High Court stamp and this is when Chagweka realised
that Phulu had not served the High Court.
In May 2021 Phulu made a chamber application for
reinstatement of the matter which had been struck off. She allegedly did not
give Chagweka the reasons why the matter was struck off.
Later Chagweka allegedly realised that Phulu was suspended
from duty and her company was put under judiciary management and Majoko of
Majoko and Majoko was appointed in charge of all Phulu clients. In 2018, Netsai
Magunda says she engaged Phulu over a relative’s property that was being
auctioned. They wanted Phulu to save the property,
The property was referred to private treaty with the
complainant expected to get a buyer.
Magunda and her relatives were surprised to be told that
Geomoses Investments was the highest bidder and it got the property for
RTGS$180 000. Records at the Registrar of Deeds allegedly indicate that the
said company does not exist.
The value of the property was US$250 000.
Magunda said in her statement to the Law Society that she
suspects that Phulu acted in collusion to sell the property. Masvingo Mirror
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