Shock as Chief Nyamandi in Gutu demands US$137 to hear court cases
MASVINGO – The cost of justice has become exorbitant for the people of Gutu as Nyamandi, one of the chiefs in the area is charging villagers up to US$137 for him to hear cases.
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MASVINGO – The cost of justice has become exorbitant for the people of Gutu as Nyamandi, one of the chiefs in the area is charging villagers up to US$137 for him to hear cases.
The decision by Chief Justice Luke Malaba to unlawfully allow a High Court judge who resigned following corruption investigations to come back to write outstanding judgements without being first cleared is likely to worsen criminality with impunity a legal expert told Nehanda Radio. Justice Webster Chinamora was quick to resign after President Emmerson Mnangagwa had appointed a tribunal to investigate him over allegations of corruption and incompetence. The charges include a report that Chinamora illegally made a ruling on a case that he did not hear.
Former cabinet Minister Saviour Kasukuwere’s spokesperson Jacqueline Sande who is also a legal practitioner, has apologised to the judiciary for making “disrespectful” sentiments against judges of the Supreme Court who upheld a High Court ruling banning her client from contesting in the recently held 2023 presidential election.
There is widespread gnashing of teeth among workers from the independent Commissions and parastatals after the Public Service Commission announced that they will no longer be allowed to board its buses starting from next month.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has controversially awarded US$400 000 housing loans to all judges in the country, three months before elections, Nehanda Radio can exclusively reveal.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned court officials against engaging in corrupt activities following an admission by some magistrates that the judiciary seems to have been captured by politicians. In October last year, some magistrates who preferred anonymity presumably to avoid intimidation, wrote a damning open letter to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Auditor-General accusing Chief Justice Luke Malaba of using “his henchman”, the JSC secretary Walter Chikwana to interfere with magistrates’ rulings and determining who gets bail or not.
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi believes that jailed opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Vice Chairman Job Sikhala (MP) is the “author of his own situation” that has led to his five month pretrial incarceration.
High Court judge Justice Joseph Chilimbe ruled in favour of Judicial Service Commission (JSC) secretary Walter Chikwana’s involvement in the case former High Court judge Justice Erica Ndewere is fighting to keep her service vehicle. In early November Chikwanha sent staff to seize the official Mercedes Benz that was issued to her when she was a Judge of the High Court. JSC staff broke the gate and doors to Ndewere’s house. They spent 4 hours on the property after breaking into the garage and brought a lock smith to forcibly open the car.
Some Zimbabwean magistrates have admitted that the judiciary is “captured” by politicians and Chief Justice Luke Malaba who reportedly continues to “interfere” with their judgements. This was revealed in a damning open letter to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Auditor-General, by magistrates who preferred anonymity presumably to avoid intimidation.
Opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Treasurer General David Coltart has said its not easy for human rights lawyers to watch the “judiciary being undermined before one’s very eyes” to make sure his incarcerated party colleagues Job Sikhala, Godfrey Sithole and the 14 members of Nyatsime community do not get freedom.