Remembering Sternford Moyo

The Law Society of Scotland pays tribute to Sternford Moyo

The Law Society of Scotland has paid tribute to Sternford Moyo, past president of the International Bar Association, who sadly passed away on Friday 5th July.

Michael Clancy, the Law Society’s Director of Law Reform, said: “I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our great friend and colleague, Sternford Moyo.

“As an integral part of a global community of lawyers dedicated to upholding the rule of law and the advancement of human rights, it was no surprise when he took up the reins as president of the International Bar Association.

“He was a welcome visitor to Scotland and a great friend to the Law Society. Most recently, at our Donoghue v Stevenson 90th Anniversary Conference, he reflected on having learned about the case and what it meant to him on a personal and professional level.

“Sternford generously lent his voice to our work on the regulation of legal services, writing to the Scottish Government in fervent defence of the independence of the legal profession.

“Some years earlier, at a conference in Edinburgh, his powerful address captivated the room and helped to focus the Scottish Government’s minds on the fundamental defects of the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 and the risks to legal and judicial independence.

“At that same conference, he told his audience that the rule of law was written on his heart. It was a sobering and poignant moment as he spoke from personal experience, having been accused of ‘subversive’ activities and arrested by Robert Mugabe’s regime.

“Sternford was a gentle and intelligent man with great humour and humility. He was a lawyer of significant courage and acumen whose guidance and wisdom will continue to touch lives long after his passing.

“I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know Sternford over the years and on behalf of the Society and the Scottish legal profession, our warmest sympathies go to his family, friends and colleagues. May he rest in peace.”

You can find out more about Sternford Moyo on the International Bar Association website.