Judge president admits justice system corrupt and in shambles

By Tererai Karimakwenda
16 January 2007

In a speech marking the beginning of the new legal year the Judge president Justice Rita Makarau said Monday the country’s justice delivery system is in shambles and is riddled with corruption. Addressing a room full of top justice officials Makarau described 2006 as one of the worst Zimbabwe has ever had with many cases pending. She said workers in the judiciary were living in squalor and urgent funding was needed in order to bring the system back on track.

Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa, who listened to Makarau on television, said the judge president also talked about corruption within the justice department and a lack of resources that is delaying justice for many. Muchemwa told us he found the scenario amusing because in the audience were top government officials who were involved in one form of corruption or another. He said some owned multiple farms and others were taking bribes to release prisoners early from jail.

Makarau went further to attack the general collapse of the economy. She praised Zimbabweans for being resilient, particularly in finding substitutes for certain basic daily products that are in short supply. But she added that justice has no substitute. And unlike supplies that can be ordered and acquired from other countries, justice had to be delivered right there in Zimbabwe. In separate speech also Monday, High Court judge Justice Maphios Cheda is reported to have told members of the judiciary that magistrates, prosecutors and lawyers are working in cahoots with criminals and police officers. According to the state’s Herald newspaper, she accused them of either granting bail where it is not due or passing lenient sentences.

The Crisis Coalition released a statement that said in part: “It is high time the government starts to address issues of national relevance and stop this child play of wishing things will solve themselves. The judiciary is an important pillar in this country and therefore should be treated as such.”

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