Bulawayo lawyer on the run

BULAWAYO - A city lawyer Ndivadzo Siphuma of Sansole and Senda law firm is under fire for misappropriating more than $10 800, which he recovered on behalf of his client Mfariseni Mleya.

In a letter dated September 5 2014 addressed to the Law Society of Zimbabwe, Mleya complained about lawyer Siphuma, whom he said he had instructed to collect R36 860 from one Moffat Mantula in 2012.

 "On several occasions I called on Siphuma to give me progress on the matter, but he was evasive for a long time," reads Mleya's letter to LSZ.

"In July 2014, I then reported him to the police as I had paid for his services.

"He was arrested and on being interviewed, he claimed that since the defendant (Mantula) had died he was awaiting the winding up of his estate so that my judgment would participate in the distribution of the estate."

Mleya said it turned out that Siphuma was lying when he said that he was awaiting the winding up of Mantula's estate.

He said after he learnt of this, he went back to the police, who then arrested Siphuma. Siphuma confessed that he misappropriated all the money and used a duplicate receipt book, which he kept in his office, unknown to the law firm.

Nyathi said Siphuma left a pending case hanging and, as his disappearance was reported to the police, he was on the run.