At Charles Law Chambers, we provide comprehensive legal services in Administrative and Public Law, representing both individuals and corporate entities in matters involving the exercise of governmental, regulatory, and administrative powers. We understand the complexities of administrative processes and are dedicated to safeguarding our clients’ rights while ensuring fairness, accountability, and transparency in public decision-making.

Our Administrative Law practice covers a wide spectrum of areas, including challenging unlawful administrative actions, navigating public service procedures, and ensuring compliance with statutory and constitutional mandates.

Our Expertise Includes:

1. Administrative Decision-Making & Tribunals
   • Advising clients on administrative decisions made by public bodies and officials.
   • Representing clients before administrative tribunals and the Administrative Court.
   • Assisting with oral hearings, submissions, and presenting evidence effectively.
2. Judicial Review & Appeals
   • Instituting judicial review proceedings to challenge unlawful, irrational, unreasonable, or procedurally improper decisions by public authorities.
   • Handling appeals against administrative decisions where internal remedies are provided by law.
   • Ensuring compliance with the principles of natural justice — including the right to a fair hearing (audi alteram partem) and freedom from bias (nemo judex in sua causa).
3. Delegated & Subsidiary Legislation
   • Advising on the validity and interpretation of delegated or subsidiary legislation.
   • Assessing the scope of powers granted to the executive and addressing issues of sub-delegation where authority has been improperly transferred.
4. Remedies & Enforcement
   • Seeking remedies for ultra vires decisions, unreasonable delays, and procedural irregularities.
   • Pursuing referrals back for reconsideration where decision-makers acted outside their powers.
   • Advising on the correction of earlier irregularities by tribunals and the extent to which they may be cured.
5. Natural Justice & Procedural Fairness
   • Ensuring decision-makers adhere to the rules of natural justice.
   • Assessing whether proof of prejudice is required to establish procedural unfairness.
   • Advising where natural justice can be excluded by statute or where it applies to investigatory proceedings.
6. Oversight Mechanisms & Accountability
   • Advising on matters involving state privilege, vicarious liability of the state, and government accountability.
   • Handling disputes involving local government, traditional leadership, and governance of communal land.

Our team combines deep knowledge of Zimbabwean administrative law with a strategic, client-focused approach. Whether you are:

• An individual challenging an unlawful administrative decision,
• A corporate entity seeking clarity on regulatory compliance, or
• A public body defending administrative action,

we provide practical solutions, robust representation, and effective advocacy at every stage, from internal reviews to the High Court and Supreme Court.

At Charles Law Chambers, we uphold the principles of fairness, accountability, and justice, ensuring that administrative authorities exercise their powers lawfully, reasonably, and transparently.