via Judiciary ready for scrutiny – LSZ – The Zimbabwean 21 January 2015
Time has come for the judiciary to remove a veil of secrecy and open itself to members of the public who are its major stakeholders, the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has said.
According to the LSZ, which regulates the legal profession, the public deserves an insight into the operations of the courts and the performance of judicial officers such as judges.
The Chief Justice’s speech when he opened the 2015 Legal Year last year showed the country’s judiciary was ready for such scrutiny, the LSZ said in a statement.
“The Chief Justice demonstrated that the Judiciary intends to lead from the front whilst exhorting the other stakeholders in the justice delivery chain particularly the police and the National Prosecuting Authority to likewise work diligently,” said the LSZ, stating that it associates itself “fully with the sentiments expressed by the Chief Justice”.
“The official opening of the legal year is a significant event to the profession. This is a time when the judiciary which largely operates from the symbolic ivory tower removes its shroud of mystery and esoteric aura. It is a time when the least vocal of the three arms of the state throws away its reticence and opens itself to scrutiny.
“The LSZ particularly notes the Chief Justice’s remarks on the performance of some the High Court Judges. The Chief Justice gave praise where it was due but was equally scathing in his attack on nonperformers whom he felt had no excuse for their non performance. As a stakeholder in the justice delivery system, the LSZ believes that such an approach is progressive as it correctly informs on appropriate strategies to be adopted.
“From the speech delivered by the Chief Justice, the LSZ notes the emphasis placed on timely and quality service delivery. Again this accords well with the requirements of the Constitution. Section 165(1)(b) states that ‘justice must not be delayed and to that end members of the judiciary must perform their judicial duties efficiently and with reasonable promptness” this is in itself a restatement of the old adage “justice delayed is justice denied.
This emphasis is welcome as it acknowledges the expectations of the public that uses the courts as critical stakeholders. On the same note the LSZ would like to congratulate judicial officers who were singled out by the Chief Justice for working hard even in an environment where resources are constricted and conditions are not the best,” said the lawyers’ body.
COMMENTS
I doubt very much that the Judges will discharge their duties judiciously and professionally particularly on matters involving zanu pf unless and until they return the farms that they were illegally given and of course they were parceled the farms for a reason. On other matters involving neutrals they could produce star perfomance no doubt.
There seems apparent contradiction in administrative intentions of creating full-time judge doubling as full-time farmer . Genuine surprises arise ONLY in the event same individual excelled in BOTH full-time engagements.