CAMPUSES & CENTRES

LEGAL OFFICEMs. G.P. Mndzebele - Senior Legal OfficerVISIONEnsure the realisation of the vision of the University byproviding efficient legal services to the UniversityMISSIONThe mission of the Legal Office is to provide legal adviceand service to protect the interests of the University andto ensure that the University adheres to legal requirementsand conducts its business in accordance with a sound legalpractice and framework within the laws of the countryand in particular the University of Swaziland Act and theUniversity Statutes.OBJECTIVESThe objectives of the Legal Office are to:Provide legal advice and ensure legality in decisionmaking and adherence to and compliance with theUniversity of Swaziland Act, Statutes and other legalrequirements;Minimise legal challenges to activities of the Universityand potential litigation involving the University;Ensure soundness of contracts and other legaldocuments to which the University is a party;Ensure that the University legal framework is up-dated;andProvide legal and administrative support in respect ofdisciplinary matters involving students and personnel.Key Activities during the Year under ReviewThe Legal Office plays an important role in the provisionof legal services to all structures of the University. Onesuch crucial role is to ensure that the University legalregime is reviewed and updated to keep pace with thechanging demands of the University. To this extent, theStatutes of the University have been updated even thoughthere are some areas which are outstanding that will soonbe finalised. Also, the Office has spearheaded the processof amending the University of Swaziland Act, 1983which is now nearing completion. It is hoped that a Bill,incorporating the proposed amendments, will go throughthe legislative structures of the country and that a new Actwill be promulgated.The Office continues to deal with disciplinary matters,involving both the students and employees of the University,and it has been able to deal with such matters promptly andthus there is no backlog in this regard. It is believed that theefficient disposal of disciplinary matters will go a long wayin addressing issues of indiscipline among staff membersand students.The Office has been available to give legal advice and opinionon wide ranging issues. The Office has ensured legality indecision making and this has invariably contributed to thedecline in litigation. Three labour matters have gone as far asthe Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission(CMAC) and one was successfully conciliated. There isone matter before the Industrial Court. There are no civilmatters pending before the courts.In line with its objective of ensuring soundness of contractsand other legal instruments the Office has been able todraft and vet a number of contracts that the University hasentered into with other parties.REPORT OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR 20