Code of Conduct for arbitration in Zimbabwe?

Arbitration in Zimbabwe is conducted in terms of the Arbitration Act [Chapter 7:15] which adopted the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration (‘Model Law’) adopted by the United Nations Commission on International Trade (‘UNCITRAL’).

The Model Law which applies to compulsory arbitration and voluntary arbitration in Zimbabwe did not envisage nor adopt a Code of Ethics nor a Code of Conduct for use in Zimbabwe. see D Kanokanga, Commercial Arbitration in Zimbabwe (Juta & Co, 2020) at 64-66.

Leading scholars, D Kanokanga & P Kanokanga, UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration: A Commentary on the Zimbabwean Arbitration Act [Chapter 7:15] (Juta & Co, 2022) at 265 held that:

“There is need for a Code of Conduct which regulates the conduct of party representatives and arbitrators in arbitral proceedings. notably, some national laws prescribe some and other institutional rules also provide them.”

Whilst the Arbitration Act [Chapter 7:15] does not provide for a Code of Conduct in Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Public Service, Labour & Social Welfare through the Labour (Arbitrators) Regulations, 2012 contains a Code of Conduct for Labour arbitrators in Zimbabwe.