Chronicle Editor
Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Reporter
VICE-President Constantino Chiwenga has lauded the Second Republic under the leadership of President Mnangagwa for prioritising the rule of law and playing a critical role in enhancing the administration of the country’s justice system including strengthening rule-based governance.
The VP also urged the judiciary in the Sadc countries to be at the forefront in advancing common interests through interactions and synergies to ensure smooth administration of justice in the region and Africa at large.
Speaking during the just ended Southern Africa Chief Justices’ Forum (SACJF) conference and annual general meeting officially opened by President Mnangagwa in Victoria Falls on Friday, VP Chiwenga said since the advent of the New Dispensation, Government managed to localise international and regional laws to allow citizens to benefit from the provisions of the Constitution.
He said Government under the Second Republic has made great strides in aligning laws to the Constitution.
Out of 396 Acts in the country’s statute books, 350 have been aligned to the Constitution with at least 46 outstanding so far.
“President Mnangagwa has placed pivotal roles in the enhancement of the administration of justice through various portfolios that he led in Government. Since the inception of the New Dispensation, the Second Republic under the visionary and able leadership of His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa, prioritised improving the rule of law and strengthening rule-based governance,” said VP Chiwenga.
“For his stance, the country has so far aligned 350 out of the 396 laws in the Constitution. International and regional laws have also been domesticated to allow citizens to benefit from the provisions of the amended Constitution.”
VP Chiwenga said President Mnangagwa is working tirelessly to ensure access to justice by all through the decentralisation of the High Court and the ongoing construction works of additional courts in small towns and remote areas.
Two weeks ago, the President commissioned the Judicial Service Commission’s (JSC) multi-million-dollar Chinhoyi Courts Building. The complex incorporates the High Court, Magistrates Court, Master of the High Court and Sheriff of the High Court. In its 2020-2025 strategic plan launched by President Mnangagwa last year in December, the JSC noted that establishment of courts within communities was priority to enhance justice delivery.
The strategic plan is in sync with the Second Republic’s culture of promoting the establishment of results-oriented and responsive mechanisms towards improved administration and delivery of justice.
VP Chiwenga said President Mnangagwa, the country’s longest serving Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs since independence, led by example as the people’s servant leader through his well-articulated Vision 2030.
“Zimbabwe is on course to becoming an upper middle-income economy by the year 2030. The philosophy is inclusive, empowering and leaves no one behind and thanks to His Excellency President Mnangagwa for leading by example as the people’s servant leader through his well-articulated Vision 2030,” he said.
VP Chiwenga urged Sadc members of the judiciary to discuss and plan on how to tackle legal issues affecting the region through engagements on matters of common interest involving the administration of justice.
“Just as the Heads of State in the region meet to discuss and plan on how to tackle and deal with issues that affect our countries in the region and come up with strategies that will improve the livelihood of our people, the same has cascaded and inspired the other arms of Government like the judiciary and legislators to act likewise,” he said.
“As you deliberate on issues that are before you and thereafter, I urge you to advance the common good for the region. Interactions and synergies such this forum, are good for the smooth administration of justice in the region and the continent as a whole.”
VP Chiwenga urged the Chief Justices under the SACJF to continue meeting and deliberating on matters of justice delivery and cooperation in the region.
The SACJF conference, which ran from 23-24 September under the theme: “The Judiciary and technology in Africa” was attended by nine Chief Justices from Southern Africa and 70 delegates drawn from 11 countries. The SACJF provides a formal platform, structure and framework through which the Chief Justices of Eastern and Southern
Africa and Africa at large are able to collectively reflect on critical issues on justice delivery and adopt action plans to address those issues in a systematic and sustained way in order to strengthen justice delivery in the region.
The overall objective of the conference was to provide space for judiciaries in East and Southern Africa region to share achievements, best practices and innovations in justice delivery.
The SACJF was established in 2003 to, among other things, uphold the rule of law, democracy and independence of the courts and to promote contact as well as co-operation among the courts in the regions of its operation. — @mashnets
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