Ministry of Justice is facing a looming sit- in by State lawyers who feel shortchanged after the ministry’s leadership failed to address their grievances communicated earlier this year.
The lawyers, among others, are demanding the introduction of a housing allowance along with a 100 percent increase in security as well as nonpractising and telephone allowances.
In a memo dated June 6 2025 addressed to Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo and copied to Solicitor General, Attorney General and six others, the lawyers say they feel the ministry has failed to address their concerns despite several engagements.
The lawyers indicate that on February 14 2025, they petitioned the minister on the matter and that he promised to address their grievances with feedback on June 4 2025. However, he is yet to provide the said feedback.
Reads the memo in part: “The Minister of Justice has not given the promised feedback, leaving the lawyers in the dark. In view of the foregoing, we, lawyers of all departments of the Ministry of Justice, wish to inform your respective offices that the sit-in which was scheduled to be held from 19th May, 2025 and was called off with the intervention of the minister, will be held from Monday the 9th June 2025 [today] until our requests are addressed.”
In an interview yesterday, Ministry of Justice spokesperson Frank Namangale said the ministry has requested the Department of Human Resource Management and Development to consider the lawyers’ demands.
Meanwhile, Taulo and Associates law firm has offered to act as conciliator between the concerned State lawyers and government on pro bono basis.
In a letter The Nation has seen, private practice lawyer Oscar Taulo said a neutral third party can help both sides to find a resolution that addresses the concerns of both parties involved.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, he noted that if the concerned lawyers proceed with the planned sit-in today, justice delivery will be affected.
In 2023, Ministry of Finance approved the review of conditions of service for government lawyers which includes the upwards adjustment of nonpractising allowance from K350 000 to K500 000 per month and the introduction of security allowance.
