ZBC

PUBLIC interviews for Judges of the Constitutional Court were conducted in Harare this Monday with more than 10 candidates vying for the five available positions.

The interviews conducted by the Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) seek to fill five available posts from 12 shortlisted candidates.
According to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Virginia Mabhiza, public interviews promote constitutionalism and transparency in the appointment of public officials.

“These interviews are very important because we are looking at the highest court which is the Constitutional Court so these interviews are going to lead to the separation of the Constitutional Court from the Supreme Court. It also enhances transparency,” she said.

Constitutional law expert, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, however, felt the panel was too harsh on some of the interviewees.

“Most of the questions were too technical which defeats the whole process of public interviews because the public wont be able to follow because of the technical jargon and the panel was too harsh on some of the interviewees and some of the questions were not relevant for public interviews,” he said.

The candidates include Justices Chinembiri Bhunu, Paddington Garwe, Anne Mary Gowora, Ben Hlatshwayo, Rita Makarau, Bharat Patel, Happias Zhou and Smart Mirirai.