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Kudzai Chikiwa, Chronicle Reporter
Traditional leaders in Matabeleland have challenged Government to establish a law school in the region and to design a programme specifically designed to educate them on the law and the constitution.
Speaking at a meeting between the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Permanent Secretary Dr Desire Sibanda and traditional leaders, Chief Mathema said there is an imbalance in the tertiary education sector as there is no law school in Matabeleland .
“We appreciate the effort to boost sciences at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) but it’s not balanced .Why can’t we have our own law school in Matabeleland just like other provinces?‘’ he said.
“Our own region should produce lawyers for us to feel that we are part of Zimbabwe. We also need the same diversity found at the University of Zimbabwe, either Lupane State University or Nust can incorporate a law school.’’
The Permanent Secretary promised to address the chiefs’ concerns. Matabeleland region has three state universities namely Nust, Gwanda State University and Lupane State University but none of them has a law school.
Chief Mathema said they are also part of the Judicial Service Commission, hence they should be well versed with the constitution and the law.
“Our traditional courts are similar to any court from the magistrate to the supreme court so the Government should educate us on what the law and constitution requires as far as judgment is concerned,’’ he said
“We don’t want situations where a chief is embarrassed and dragged to the courts charged of misjudging traditional court cases or acting against the law yet at the beginning you didn’t educate him’.’
Chief Mathema said that chiefs are not asking for degrees but want a programme that appreciates the validity of law literacy in their traditional courts.
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