ED climbs down on Malaba High Court judgement

Government has yesterday made a major climbdown on former Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s case.

In a statement issued from the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, government said they believe in independence of judiciary and respects the principles of separation of powers  as set out in the Constitution.

“The government of Zimbabwe strongly believe in independence of judiciary and respects the principles of separation of powers as set out in the Constitution of Zimbabwe

“The government therefore recognise the importance of the judiciary as a dependable interpreter of the law where various opinion arise” 

 President Emmerson Mnangagwa also confirmed on his twitter handle as he said his administration respected the decision made by the High Court on Saturday.

“In Zimbabwe, the independence of our judiciary is vital to the survival of our democracy. When our courts speak, all Zimbabweans should listen. 

“The Government or Zimbabwe wholeheartedly respects the independence of our judiciary.”

This was after his Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi had threatened unspecified action on the judges who ruled against extension of the former Chief Justice’s term of office by five years.

His stance was at variance with Ziyambi who accused the three High Court judges – Justices Happias Zhou, Jester Helena Charehwa and Edith Mushore of being captured by foreign forces.

The latest development comes amid reports that government bungled its appeal by lodging its papers at the Supreme Court instead of the Constitutional Court (ConCourt).

Ziyambi and Attorney-General Prince Machaya filed the notice of appeal on Monday.