THE Masvingo High court officials have come in for special commendation for
sterling work during the 2022 legal year, despite being manned by two judges
instead of three.
Speaking during the official opening of the 2023 legal year on Monday in
Masvingo, Constitutional Judge, Justice Rita Makarau, said the good clearance
rate on the cases from the High Court must be maintained and should be a
source of pride to the Judicial Service Commission as an example of the
efficient deployment of staff and resources.
Of the 2 059 cases filed with the High Court during the course of the year, 58
cases were brought forward from 2021 making them 2 117 cases. Out of these,
2 094 cases were completed leaving only 23 cases that will be carried forward
into 2023, making a 99 percent case clearance rate.
The magistrates received 7 799 criminal cases during the course of the year and
out of these 7 795 cases were completed. In the civil division a total of 5 572
cases were completed, leaving a balance of only 71 cases.
“I am pleased to report that notwithstanding the increase in the number of cases
filed with the courts, 2022 has been fairly congenial year for both the High
Court and the Magistrates’ Courts in Masvingo. The High Court performed well
despite the fact that it was manned by only two instead of usual three judges.
“I wish, on behalf of the community here in Masvingo, to commend the two
judges for their hard work and for keeping the menace of a backlog at bay. It is
apparent that the High Court here in Masvingo has set very high standards for
itself and the hard work of the two judges can only serve as an inspiration to
other judges at other stations.”
The two judges – Justices Garainesu Mawadze and Justice Sunsleey Zisengwe –
were complimented by Justice Paddington Garwe for their performance during
the preceding year at the official opening of the 2022 legal year.
Justice Makarau also applauded the magistrates for what she described as “a
very pleasing 2022”, adding that the performance of the magistrates’ courts was
equally impressive.
Meanwhile, she commended the Masvingo senior lawyers in taking on their
responsibilities seriously and setting a good example for their colleagues
elsewhere.
“I am informed that the legal practitioners here do not shirk their responsibilities
to represent those who are accused of crime and cannot afford to pay for their
legal representation. Local legal practitioners dutifully take on such cases
without flinching and rarely request for postponements of matters already set
down.
“I could but will not name places where the legal practitioners will employ
every trick in the book to avoid pro deo matters and, where they cannot do so
without facing sanction, will palm off the case to the most junior member of
their law firms,” she said.
