JSC begins search for 5 Constitutional Court Judges

Harare, (New Ziana) – The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Sunday began the search to recruit five judges who will be seconded to the Constitutional Court on a permanent basis.

The search comes nine days after the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court were separated in line with the dictates of the country’s Constitution.

Previously, selected judges sat on both the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court benches.

But now the two are operating independent of each other with their own staff.

The JSC, a constitutional body whose mandate is to advise the government on matters relating to the judiciary, efficient and transparent administration of justice as well as to promote the independence and accountability of the judiciary, said the public was welcome to nominate individuals who qualify to sit on Constitutional Court the bench.

“In terms of Section 180 (4) (b) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, members of the public are hereby invited to nominate suitably qualified persons to fill the positions in the Constitutional Court,” the JSC said.

Individuals who qualify for nomination as Constitutional Court Judges must have a minimum of 40 years and should ideally have been a judge in a country which uses the English, or the Roman-Dutch law, with English as the official language.

Individuals with at least 12 years legal experience in Zimbabwe and in a country using the Roman-Dutch law also qualify.

The JSC stressed that nominated individuals must be “fit and proper” to hold office as a judge.

Nominations will be open for a month and close on June 30.

The Constitutional Court is the highest court in the land and is headed by Chief Justice, Luke Malaba.
New Ziana