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PRESIDENT Mnangagwa recently appointed long-serving senior civil servant Mrs VIRGINIA MABIZA (VM) as the first female Attorney-General in Zimbabwe. The Sunday Mail’s TANYARADZWA RUSIKE (TR) spoke to Mrs Mabiza about her appointment and priorities in her new position going forward.
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TR: Please, give us a brief background of who Virginia Mabiza is?
VM: I am the Attorney-General-designate, waiting to assume duty on November 1, 2023. I am a legal practitioner with vast experience in criminal and civil litigation. I have been privileged to serve as permanent secretary for Justice for the past 10 years. l am happily married with four children. I was born in Masvingo, Zimuto, where I had my early education. I hold a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree from the University of Zimbabwe and did my post-graduate MSc degree in Leadership and Change Management with Leeds Metropolitan University (UK). I have vast experience in constitution-making processes, having had a lot of exposure as permanent secretary for Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs during the Inclusive Government.
TR: You have been appointed the first female Attorney-General (AG). What does this appointment mean to you?
VM: I consider this appointment a tremendous honour. It is reflective of the trust and confidence reposed in me by the authorities. I consider my appointment a shared recognition to be celebrated with my fellow sisterhood. My gratitude goes to the Second Republic for its consistent commitment to inspire the girl child. This is a cherished opportunity to serve my country in the strategic capacity of Attorney-General. It means facing and addressing the challenges that lie ahead. This appointment demands earnest engagement with professional colleagues within and without the legal fraternity in order to effectively utilise our laws for the development of our motherland. Above all else, the appointment will call upon my strongest and core support system — my husband Louis and our children.
TR: What was your initial reaction to the appointment?
VM: I was inspired. Zimbabwe, I am ready to serve.
TR: Can you outline the significance of your new post?
VM: The AG is a constitutional appointee. The office carries unique responsibilities and privileges. I would opine that, simply put, the constitutional and jurisprudential essence of the AG’s Office is to ensure effective discharge of the constitutional mandate by each of the three arms of the State — the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.
The AG must be a dependable adviser of the Government on legal matters. This entails dispensing timely, accurate and relevant legal advice. The business of Government is multi-faceted. Alignment or harmonisation of all these becomes a key deliverable.
In all the endeavours, the AG must remain faithful to the essentials of the oath of loyalty and oath of office. The former denotes uncompromisingly prioritising the best interests of the nation. The latter defines the efficiency and effectiveness of discharge of functions.
TR: How will your position as Attorney-General contribute to the development of Zimbabwe’s legal sector?
VM: At a strategic or constitutional level, the AG is a significant shaper of the national jurisprudence. I am excited by the prospects of change and improvement in all aspects of law and legal process.
The Constitution allows the AG to be joined in any matter as a friend of the court in order to protect public interest. This will certainly be utilised to enhance the rule of law.
The Second Republic places law and legal process at the centre of not just dispute resolution but also all aspects of national development. The efforts continue to strengthen the position and status of Zimbabwe as a jurisdiction that is uncompromising when it comes to the rule of law. Significant rebranding is required in that regard through real, committed and demonstrable implementation of the rule of law. The fruits and effects of such a strategy should speak for themselves.
Finally, the AG’s Office is the biggest law firm in the country, in so many respects, including the value and volume of work handled. There is, therefore, great scope for the AG and legal fraternity to exploit synergies for the ultimate benefit and enhancement of the legal sector.
TR: What have you identified as the priority areas to tackle in your new office?
VM: I would cluster these into internal and external.
On the domestic/institutional front, there is a need to build on the tremendous work and progress attained by my predecessors in furthering the strategic objectives of the AG based on the constitutional mandate. An institutionally strong AG will be able to deliver on the demands and efficiencies required.
For that reason, internal capacitisation predicated on automation and e-Government will be an ongoing focus. Other arms of the State, especially the Judiciary, have made significant progress in this quest. The AG has a symbiotic relationship with the Judiciary through the courts. It must, therefore, take steps to mirror the developments in the courts and the JSC (Judicial Service Commission) through the flagship IECMS (Integrated Electronic Case Management System).
Externally, there is need for completion of the constitutional alignments and a review of the entire process as a quality check exercise.
There is also need to support key outstanding /strategic legislation, as recently pronounced by His Excellency the President in the legislative agenda, as well as support the Executive in its international engagements through relevant instruments locally, regionally and internationally.
All efforts will be to enhance the attainment of Vision 2030 as envisaged in our National Development Strategy 1.
There is also need to give guidance and support in other key initiatives such as State enterprise revival; promotion of local and external investment; and aiding the war against corruption, money laundering and other aspects of financial crime and mischief.
TR: How are you going to collaborate with the Prosecutor-General’s Office?
VM: The AG and the PG’s Office are two separate offices but parts making up one whole all the same. They enjoy a special relationship for collaboration and cross pollination without compromising on mandate. There are many areas of convergence and I will engage with PG Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo, being a solid, tried and tested veteran in whom I have the highest confidence.
TR: Any last words?
VM: In conclusion, the AG performs both oversight and supportive functions. The ultimate aim can be reduced to a simple quest to ensure that the conduct and consequence of the three arms of the State are clothed with the validity of the law.
Online Reporter