THE Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has lamented the state of the country’s justice delivery system, describing it as “rotten” and riddled with corruption. ZHRC chairperson Jessie Majome issued the damning verdict yesterday during a consultative workshop organised by Zacc and a consultant. The workshop was attended by stakeholders in the fight against corruption, including judicial officers, civil society organisations and law enforcement agents.
In her contribution, Majome called for the inclusion of the justice sector in NACS2’s key priority areas, arguing that systemic corruption and inefficiency undermine the fight against graft. “Justice itself — the whole system — from the legal practitioners in the criminal justice system; the police and prosecutors, magistrates and judges, sometimes in the civil arena as well. “I mean, everything in terms of access to justice is for sale.
Education and health, everything is for sale. We have serious problems.” She said ZHRC continued to receive complaints from the public about the justice sector, revealing widespread dissatisfaction and mistrust. “As ZHRC, we are a public protector institution as well,” Majome said.
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“And there are some strange practices that go on there in the justice delivery system. Even from my experience in the legal profession, there is a problem.”
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