Zimbabwe has an independent judiciary contrary to what critics claim, Zimbabwe’s Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa says.
Mr Chinamasa told ZimEye in an exclusive interview that claims that the country’s judges are controlled by President Robert Mugabe, are false.
“That is damn lies,” said Chinamasa. He continued:
“…and should be dismissed with the contempt those allegations deserve. We have a very independent judiciary which comes to conclusions on the basis the merits of of cases and allegations, and facts presented before them.
“That of course has no basis at all,” he said.
Chinamasa comments came barely a few weeks before the supreme court ruled that Zimbabwe must hold elections before the end of July 2013, a verdict the MDC-T party says was purely political and the supreme court does not have a mandate to set an election date. Tsvangirai’s spkesman Luke Tamborinyoka said the Supreme Court judges had over-stretched their mandate.
But some news readers have argued to the contrary, stating against the MDC-T position that section 158 is very specific on the timing of elections and that the Supreme Court merely acted on the basis of written stipulations.
Wrote one ZimEye news reader:
(1)
A general election must be held so that polling takes place not more than—
(a)
thirty days before the expiry of the five-year period specified in section 143;
(b)
where Parliament has passed resolutions to dissolve in terms of section 143
(2), ninety days after the passing of the last such resolution; or
(c)
where Parliament is dissolved in terms of section 109
(4) or (5) following a vote of no confidence, ninety days after the dissolution.
(2)
General elections to local authorities must take place concurrently with
presidential and parliamentary general elections.
11 Replies to “Zimbabwe Has An Independent Judiciary – Chinamasa”
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Chinamasa singing for his supper once again. These Judges have been given farms by Zanupf and will always rule in favour of the party which gave them free farms – wouldn’t you do the same?
Chinamasa its not about ZANUpf goverment which brought povert in Zimbabwe.Its a process of GPA which is working to bring a really free and fair elections to choose their good who lead them to a really Zimbabwe that give them enjoyment of their country.Chinamasa you and your ZANU pf you are terolazing,robing,killing innocent people for looting Zimbabwean resources,so you must shut up your wide mouth people are sick and tired of your oppressings for 33years
Must read {nja yeChona}
Msathanyoko wena yeChona ozenza mina.
Editor, please ,why don’t you ban these stupid gay impersonators ? my good name is abused on a daily basis by these rats eating bastards, i do not know why they do not use their filthy gay names when they are posting their trash nxa.
Uyanya wena Chinamasa Zimbabwe has no independent judiciary.
Nice one Cde minister tell them damn fools.
There is a lot of discussions about the recent judgement, so let’s try to put what happened into a context:
On Friday Mugabe sent his rep (Mawarire) to the estate agents (High Court) & chose an upmarket townhouse (elections). Mugabe is now busy celebrating and wants to do a house warming party with his friends & relatives. He has rushed with his wife to Japan to purchase new curtains and other bits and pieces, he has also employed a garden boy (Garinya) to manicure the gardens. At work Garinya likes to be called Prof Mzvinavhu for his love and skills of turning the garden soil and manure.
Oh, suddenly the aspiring landlord Mugabe has realized he needs money to fund the house purchase!
So next week he is heading to the bank (SADC) to speak to the bank manager (Jacob Zuma) about the purchase and tell the bank manager the seller WANTS HIS MONEY BY 31 July 2013.
The bank manager will have to do some checks on the aspiring landlord, and put some conditions before the money is released (there is nothing like free lunch, they always brag these bank managers).
Anyway, let’s not second guess what the bank manager will say or do, Mugabe’s appointment is only a few days away. What’s your opinion, is the perennial defaulter Mugabe with a 33 year old bad credit history going to get an unconditional mortgage? Is he going to get a mortgage at all? WILL HE PAY SELLER BY 31 JULY 2013?
Vanhu Havachada zanupf!!
Instant Moyo you are the instant fool we all see.The truth hasbn told here.That the judiciary is independent,the executive and legislature are fine just like dat.Therez seperation of power here in Zim.
Zimbabwe has never had an independent judiciary and is unlikely to have such in the near future under any party or regime. To suggest that Zimbabwe’s judiciary is currently independent shows beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Chinamasa is decidedly ignorant of his own country or is a total fool.
If the supreme court followed the new constitution then all other demanded reforms should be in place by end of July 2013. Failure to such reforms to take effect would require another constitutional court.