One of Zimbabwe’s most prominent lawyers and political figures, Professor Welshman Ncube, has come under fire for submitting a legal brief to the Supreme Court containing fabricated case law generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
In the case of Pulserate Investments (Pvt) Ltd v Andrew Zuze and Others [SC202/25], Prof. Ncube admitted responsibility for including 12 non-existent or misapplied legal citations in documents filed on behalf of the appellant.
The fake references were discovered and flagged by the legal team representing the first respondent, led by Advocate Thabani Mpofu.
In a letter addressed to the Registrar of the Supreme Court, Ncube issued a formal apology, describing the incident as “a catastrophic lapse in professional judgment.”
He revealed that a graduate researcher under his supervision had sourced the case law using AI tools without verifying the material’s authenticity, and that he, in turn, failed to cross-check the submissions before filing.
“There is no excuse that can justify such an error. The integrity of all legal proceedings depends absolutely on the accuracy of authorities cited,” wrote Ncube.
The 12 citations, some referencing cases that do not exist, highlight the potential dangers of uncritical reliance on AI in high-stakes legal settings. While AI tools can aid legal research, experts warn that they must not replace the diligence and verification required of legal practitioners.
Ncube, a veteran lawyer, said the mistake was neither intentional nor an attempt to mislead the court.
Still, the incident has sparked debate in Zimbabwe’s legal circles and beyond about AI’s role in legal research and professional responsibility.
Ncube also extended his apology to opposing counsel who had to endure the agony of verifying the non-existent and non-supportive cases.
“The episode serves as a cautionary tale for legal professionals navigating the promises and pitfalls, of AI in the digital age,” warned critics.
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