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Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) cleared 69 708 out of 101 112 cases between January and September this year.
This was revealed by Prosecutor-General, Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo, in a speech read on her behalf by her deputy Mr Rex Shana at NPA’s 2024 Strategic Plan Review workshop in Kariba.
This comes at a time when the Asset Forfeiture Unit has recovered US$32 million in illicit proceeds and instrumentalities of crime, with preservation orders having secured a further US$21 million in assets by the third quarter of 2024.
Justice Matanda-Moyo said the NPA recorded a substantial clearance rate in the first quarter.
“From January to the 31st of March 2024, the NPA handled a total number of 35,690 cases. Of these, 26 391 were completed, a percentage clearance of 73,94 percent.
“From the 1st of April to the 30th of June, which is the second quarter, the NPAZ handled 32 006 cases. Those completed from these were 21 028, a percentage clearance rate of 65,7 percent.
“In the third quarter, 1st of July to the 30th of September, the NPA handled 33 416 cases. Of these, 21 889 cases were completed, that is a percentage clearance rate of 65.5 percent.
“So, the total clearance rate is 101 112 and the total completed are 69 308, thus giving us 31 804 pending cases with a percentage clearance rate of 68,54 percent. That is a remarkable achievement.”
She also praised the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, including the Judiciary, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the community at large, for their contributions to the Midlands Special High Court Circuit’s successful clearance rate of 91 percent out of 150 outstanding cases.
“During the three-week circuit, we successfully cleared an outstanding 137 out of 150 cases. This impressive 91 percent clearance rate and 98 percent conviction rate highlights the effectiveness of our collaborative efforts.
“The Midlands Special High Court Circuit stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and our unwavering commitment to delivering timely and just outcomes.
“This special High Court Circuit enabled us to significantly reduce the backlog of murder cases in the Midlands province efficiently, ensuring that justice is served in a timely manner.”
Justice Matanda-Moyo also revealed that the NPA had made remarkable progress in terms of asset recovery.
“I am pleased to report that the Asset Forfeiture Unit managed to secure preservation orders in respect of property valued at US$21 000 000 by the end of the third quarter of 2024.
“In respect of forfeiture of property, we managed to recover proceeds and instrumentalities of crime in the sum of US$32 000 000 by the third quarter of 2024.”
With regards to international co-operation, Justice Matanda-Moyo said the NPA had received 41 requests for Mutual Legal Assistance and 36 had been executed.
Zimbabwe, she said, had also made 38 requests for international co-operation, half of which were yet to be executed.
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