HARARE – Businessman Tendai Mashamhanda has intensified his call for the resignation of Chief Justice Luke Malaba, accusing him of deliberately ignoring his “legitimate complaints” against his subordinates.
In a letter dated February 8th, 2024, Mashamhanda cited several letters of complaints against the several judicial officers that have been ignored by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
He argues that Malaba deliberately ignores his letters with the hope that the issues raised will die a natural death.
“You ignore legitimate complaints from me, from JSC staff, magistrates, high court judges, supreme court judges, and members of the public as a strategy of sweeping the issues raised under the carpet.
“You hope that these issues will die a natural death, thereby protecting you from accountability,” Mashamhanda wrote.
“The Judicial Services Commission has under your leadership failed to respect and fulfill the founding values and principles covered in section 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
“This includes the rule of law and principles of good governance, which entail respect for the people of Zimbabwe, from whom the authority to govern is derived. Transparency, justice, accountability, and responsiveness.
“In order to protect the integrity of the judicial system in Zimbabwe and the interests of the people of Zimbabwe, you must resign as a matter of urgency.”
Mashamhanda, however, cited a letter he received on 6 February 2024 from the Secretary of the (JSC), Walter Chikwana, which described his grievances as “defamatory statements.”
“In light of the clearly defamatory statements, and the abuse of the complaint procedure in the letter to the office of the Chief Justice dated 12 January 2024, and the various letters addressed to the Minister of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, the office of the Chief Justice is unable to assist you,” read part of the letter by JSC secretary.
Mashamhanda said the letter was extremely “irrelevant and does not address the issues raised. It is simply a futile attempt to sweep matters raised under the carpet.”
He further accused Malaba of protecting some “corrupt” judges and Chikwana.
“In my view, you also resort to this strategy to protect corrupt practices by judges and the Secretary Judicial Service Commission.
“You are fully aware that some of the judges and the Secretary (of the) Judicial Service Commission are extremely corrupt and operate as a cartel to deny the people of Zimbabwe the justice they deserve,” the prominent businessman added.
Good job, l pray you are successful.
Kuguta hupfu uko