Magistrates asked about Zanu (PF) in promotional examination

By Tichaona Sibanda
7 February 2007

A promotional examination for junior magistrates has caused an uproar in the ministry of justice because the set questions contained a number of Zanu (PF) related issues.

A group of magistrates who had convened in Harare from all over the country to write the examination for promotion to regional magistrates were shocked to see questions that were not related to their profession.

Instead of tackling questions on criminal procedure and evidence or looking at the ministry’s code of conduct, the junior magistrates had to answer questions on the Zanu (PF) manifesto.

Our Harare correspondent Simon Muchemwa said instead of looking at legal issues the magistrates were asked about the impending birthday of Robert Mugabe.

‘One of the questions asked in the examination was who organises the birthday celebrations for Robert Mugabe. Others had to do with Zanu (PF) politics and this shocked the magistrates,’ said Muchemwa.

Although no one refused to write the examination for fear of victimisation, it is clear the desperate regime wants to indoctrinate the magistrates using Zanu (PF) propaganda.