Zimbabwe debates overhaul of prosecutorial practic...

Zimbabwe debates overhaul of prosecutorial practices

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

CHIEF REPORTER

The Zimbabwean Senate last week debated the efficiency and transparency of the justice system amid calls for further training of prosecutors.

Senator Angeline Kumbirai Tongogara (Zanu PF) raised concerns around the transparency of the justice system.

She questioned the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, on steps being taken by the Ministry to address these concerns.

Minister Ziyambi acknowledged the broad nature of the question and highlighted the importance of legal rules and procedures in ensuring a fair justice system.

“The justice delivery system ... has got rules and procedures that knows no colour,” he said, citing that the law must be applied equally regardless of a person’s status.

Senator Tongogara, however, pressed further, inquiring why some cases experience lengthy delays before reaching court.

The Minister explained that investigations play a crucial role.

“Our laws indicate that a person is an accused person unless you bring that person before the court and the court duly convicts them,” he pointed out.

It was also noted that incomplete investigations by arresting officers can lead to delays in presenting cases to the prosecution authorities.

The discussion shifted to prosecutorial guidelines when Senator Kucaca Phulu enquired about the extent of training provided to prosecutors on the recently published 2021 guidelines. She emphasised the importance of transparency and public awareness regarding these guidelines.

While acknowledging the new guidelines and ongoing consultations, Minister Ziyambi admitted they have not been published yet. He assured the Senate that training for prosecutors will commence once the guidelines are officially published.

“Yes. That is the norm that should happen that you must train. We have produced new prosecution guidelines. I was in discussions with the Prosecutor-General. We have consulted PLC on the guidelines and we are about to publish them.

“Once that has been done, the Prosecutor General is going to roll-out the training to all our prosecutors. Once these are published, members of the public are aware of them.

“You will recall that there was a period when we used to have acting Prosecutors-General but now we have a substantive. She has done new guidelines and has finished consultations. The process of training will definitely occur,” Ziyambi said.