Online Reporter
Zimpapers Writer
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday presided over the swearing in of Zimbabwe’s first ever female Chief Justice, Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza, and her deputy, Justice Paddington Garwe.
Lands and Rural Development Deputy Minister Tsitsi Zhou, Auditor General Mrs Vimbai Chikwenhere, Health Service Commission Deputy Chair Dr Rugare Kangwende and Commissioners Colonel (Rtd) Dr Lioba Gunduza and Mr Ernest Manyawu were also sworn in.
Speaking to the media, Justice Gwaunza said it was always heartening whenever women and the girl child are recognised for their hard work and dedication.
“Every girl child has challenges to overcome as she grows up, challenges that the boy child does not experience, because the girl child is going to start from an early age cooking, sweeping, going to the well, no matter how many kilometres it is, the boy child in the meantime is going up.
“So you have to ask and then you have to commend the girl who gets to A level. And beyond that university, you would have to commend them even more. They would have had to fight a lot of challenges as well,” she narrated.
When questioned about misconceptions that the bench is “captured”, Chief Justice Gwaunza said these were not a new phenomenon and that, in any event, the losing side in court cases often believes it should have been the one to prevail.
“Well, I haven’t become a judge today. I have been a judge for almost 30 years and this has always been there. You just do your work. We went to school. We studied law. We practised law. Even as judges, you are practising and applying the law. Just concentrate on that.
“Whatever people think, don’t let it distract you. Don’t let it affect you. Just do your job,” she said.
Auditor General Chikwenhere said she would discharge her duties diligently including blocking leakages.
“The good thing that is there is the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which gives a clear mandate for the Auditor General. Leakages will always be there, but we have international standards that guide us on how to block them.
“I think firstly what is going to be key is establishing trust with our stakeholders, because it’s important to have the same values and to have some collaboration,” she said.
Deputy Minister Zhou expressed gratitude to the President for her appointment while reaffirming her commitment to assisting Minister Vangelis Haritatos in the ministry.
“It is indeed an honour to be joining the Ministry of Lands and Rural Development. I will be there to assist Honourable Minister Haritatos to deal with the issues that I have been discussing with His Excellency to deal with land disputes, to make sure the vulnerable groups get justice in terms of getting their land.
“We are looking at the children of the war veterans, the widows or spouses of the war veterans and all other vulnerable groups that include persons with disabilities in getting land,” she said.
