18 murder cases set down for Gweru High Court Circuit

ABOUT 25 percent of murder cases to be heard during the first term of the Gweru High Court Circuit are related to Gender Based Violence (GBV) as more women continue to be killed by those who have vowed to love and cherish them, a High Court judge said yesterday.

Officially opening the Gweru High Court Circuit legal year at the Gweru Magistrates’ Courts Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Evangelista Kabasa said statistics from last year and this first quarter reflect the ugly scourge of GBV in society.

“This is not meant to suggest that men are not victims of gender-based violence. My focus was deliberately on the weaker sex, the women folk.

“This is so because perpetrators of Gender Based Violence are predominantly men and the victims are most frequently women. This is due to unequal power relationships,” said Justice Kabasa.

While the country joined the rest of the world in commemorating the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, which run from 25 November to 10

December, she said the scourge of GBV still remains a big challenge.

“The start of this legal year comes just over a month after the commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism against GBV aforementioned. Of the 55 cases dealt with in 2023, 14 deaths were as a result of gender-based violence,” said the judge.

“The current circuit court has a total of 18 cases and four of these are as a result of GBV. This is a worrying trend, as it shows a 25 percent and 22 percent occurrence rate.”

Whilst the courts do their part in presiding over these murder cases and expediting the conclusion of the trials, Justice Kabasa said the real solution lies in society working towards a culture where it respects each other’s bodily integrity and shun violence.

Government’s commitment to eradicate GBV has to be complemented by society appreciating that violence does not solve anything. Instead, this only exacerbates the problem, she added.

“The judiciary can only come in to ensure justice is done, not only to the victims and their loved ones but to the offenders as well. Respect of the sanctity of life is the panacea to this scourge,” said Justice Kabasa.

Last year the Gweru circuit had a total of 55 murder cases of which 35 were completed. This translates to a clearance rate of 63, 6 per cent, which the judge said was commendable.

“During the third term 21 cases were set down. 18 cases were completed. Three cases had the accused persons referred for mental evaluation. For this circuit a total of 18 cases have been set down. It is hoped that all those ready for trial will be finalised,” she said.

“The right to life is a fundamental human right…A society that fails to respect the sanctity of life fails to live by the values and principles espoused in our Constitution.”

Justice Kabasa said murder cases were one of the ills the nation is grappling with alongside the recent spike in armed robberies and the peddling of illicit drugs.

“We read of daring and brazen acts of violence perpetrated against innocent people in the course of robberies. In some cases, victims have been killed during these dastardly acts,” she said.

“Some of the offenders have been successfully prosecuted.”

Justice Kabasa said the provision of valuable information to law enforcement agents to aid in the apprehension of those who have decided to live lives of crime is encouraged so as to rid the nation of deviant characters whose actions impinge on others’ right to life, property and human dignity.

She challenged parents and guardians to play their part in protecting children from this scourge of drugs and substance abuse that is threatening the future of the youths.

Justice Kabasa said the crime rate in the country coupled with a society that has become increasingly litigious has translated into a heavy workload for the courts.

“As we battle this heavy workload, we remain resolute to ensure minimal delays in adjudicating over cases, mindful of the truism that justice delayed is justice denied,” she said.

“As a key state institution, the judiciary plays important roles that define and shape the social, economic, political and cultural systems of a state.”