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LPU expands publications list
Beverley Hargrove
Extracted from LRF supplement in The Zimbabwe Independent
July 01, 2005

The Legal Resources Foundation envisaged its publications programme merely producing a paralegal manual and supporting pamphlets to complement its pilot paralegal scheme.

But almost as soon as it owned its first computer, members of the legal profession approached the organization to assist with publishing some vitally important legal reference works. Thus an official Legal Publications Unit (LPU) was created to deal with the publishing work of LRF.

The LPU rapidly became an important part of the work of the LRF in facilitating access to justice through the provision of legal texts to those engaged in the administration of justice. Work commenced in 1986 on producing the first legal publication, the Consolidated Index to the Law Reports: 1964-1983

Lawyers and others found it increasingly difficult to find relevant case law over this period which not only spanned two decades, but also the introduction of much new legislation after Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980. Two other essential handbooks utilized by many legal practitioners both in private and government practice were also commenced in 1986, these being revisions of the long out-of-print Prosecutors Handbook and Specimen Indictment Book.

Numerous members of the legal profession gave their time towards producing these publications; the legal profession, business community and Zimbabwe Republic Police made substantial financial and material contributions to kick-start the LPU.

The rest is history. With the purchase of more appropriate equipment and publishing software, made possible through generous grants, the LPU rapidly expanded its book list to include various guides to legal topics utilized both by practicing lawyers and law students.

In 1988 the LPU started the Bulletin of Zimbabwe Law, a brand new publication providing short summaries of case law and legislation. This publication, together with an index to the Legislation in force in Zimbabwe, gave non lawyers and others engaged in commerce, finance, manufacturing and governance their first opportunity to find their way through the maze of legislation and case law built up over years.

The Legal Forum also saw the light of day in 1988, providing an important forum for debate on issues relating to the administration, functioning and reform of law in Zimbabwe. The Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs entered into a contract with the LRF in the late 1980’s to produce the official law reports of Zimbabwe – a project LRF still undertakes for the ministry, together with the compilation of periodic indexes. Another invaluable service provided to the legal profession is the Procedural Law Legislation Service, a loose –leaf collection of updated rules of court with relevant case annotations.

Although the selling price of all works published are subsidized to make them affordable, sales of publications generally contribute a small amount to the coffers of LRF to enable it to undertake other programmes and to fund needed, but commercially unviable publications.

Over the past 20 years, the LPU has produced numerous books and revised editions on legal topics covering:

Administrative law, business law, civil practice, constitutional law, criminal law, criminal procedure, delict, family law, law and medicine, media law and sentencing.

The LRF co-published Breaking the Silence – building True Peace, the report on atrocities in Matabeleland during Gukurahundi, with the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and the LRF still has copies of the summary reports available in the vernacular.

In support of the training and continuing education of persons involved in the administration of the law, the LPU produced various handbooks for paralegals, defenders, prosecutors, magistrates and law enforcement agents.

Whilst some are no longer in print, steps have been taken to resuscitate production of many of these important publications, and titles. In production for 2005 are included books on conveyancing and employment law, as well as new editions of other titles now out of stock.

*Hargrove is the founding director of the LPU.

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