Harare lawyer and advocate Joshua J. Chirambwe has been found guilty of unprofessional conduct by the Law Society of Zimbabwe after a complaint by fellow lawye...
Harare lawyer and advocate Joshua J. Chirambwe has been found guilty of unprofessional conduct by the Law Society of Zimbabwe after a complaint by fellow lawyer Advocate Fadzayi Mahere over messages posted on a WhatsApp group.
The complaint relates to messages posted on 15 January 2024 in a WhatsApp group known as “Advocates of Zimbabwe”. Mahere reported Chirambwe to the Law Society, alleging that messages posted under the name “Young Money” were unprofessional, dishonourable and lustful and amounted to sexual harassment.
The Law Society considered the complaint under its professional conduct rules and sexual harassment policy. The allegations were considered against By-Law 3(23) of the Legal Practitioners (Code of Conduct) By-Laws, 2018, as well as Part 6.2.1 of the Law Society of Zimbabwe’s 2024 Sexual Harassment Policy.
The professional body later considered the matter at a Council meeting held on 27 August 2026. Following its consideration of the complaint, Council found Chirambwe guilty of unprofessional conduct.
In a verdict letter dated 2 October 2026, Law Society of Zimbabwe Executive Secretary Edward Mapara informed Chirambwe of the decision. Mapara wrote that Council had found that Chirambwe had been inappropriate in his advances and conduct on the WhatsApp platform.
“Council noted that you were inappropriate in your advances and on the WhatsApp platform. Council resolved that you be found guilty of unprofessional conduct,” Mapara wrote.
The finding followed a complaint in which Mahere alleged that the messages directed at her amounted to unwanted sexual attention. The Law Society’s proceedings therefore focused on whether the conduct breached the professional standards and rules governing legal practitioners.
The specific charge considered by the Law Society was defined as “unwanted or unwelcome sexual attention of an offensive nature made by a person who knows, or reasonably should know, that the attention is unwanted or unwelcome.”
The finding means that the professional conduct proceedings have moved to the sentencing stage. Chirambwe has been given 14 days to submit mitigation before the Law Society’s Council determines the appropriate sentence.
The Law Society has warned that if Chirambwe does not submit his mitigation within the 14-day period, Council will proceed to deliberate on the sentence without further reference to him.
The complaint was initially made in relation to conduct on the WhatsApp group “Advocates of Zimbabwe”. According to the Law Society’s account, the messages were posted on 15 January 2024 and were made under the name “Young Money”.
Mahere’s complaint resulted in the matter being considered under the legal profession’s disciplinary framework. The Law Society identified the relevant professional conduct provision as By-Law 3(23) of the Legal Practitioners (Code of Conduct) By-Laws, 2018.
The organisation also considered its 2024 Sexual Harassment Policy, specifically Part 6.2.1. The policy provision formed part of the basis on which the conduct was considered by Council.
The matter was not concluded immediately after the complaint. It was subsequently considered by the Law Society Council on 27 August 2026 before the verdict was communicated to Chirambwe in the letter dated 2 October 2026.
The Law Society’s finding concerns professional conduct and does not itself state the sentence that will ultimately be imposed. That decision will be made after Chirambwe has been given an opportunity to submit mitigation.
The 14-day mitigation period gives Chirambwe an opportunity to present information for consideration before the sentence is determined. If he does not make a submission within the specified period, the Council will proceed without further reference to him, according to the verdict letter.
The case places the professional conduct of lawyers on social media and messaging platforms within the scope of the Law Society’s disciplinary processes. The complaint arose from communications on a WhatsApp group used by advocates.
The Law Society’s finding is specifically that Chirambwe was guilty of unprofessional conduct in relation to the conduct described in the complaint. The organisation has not yet announced the sentence in the matter.
The next stage will therefore be the consideration of mitigation and the subsequent decision by Council on the appropriate sentence. Until that process is completed, the final disciplinary sanction has not been stated in the information provided.
For now, the Law Society’s formal position is that Chirambwe was found guilty of unprofessional conduct after the Council considered the complaint and the relevant professional and sexual harassment provisions.
