Malaba escapes jail term, High court rules he did not oppose the ruling

The high court has dismissed the case in which Lawyers were was to have the former Chief Justice Luke Malaba incarcerated for contempt of court

Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum director Musa Kika had asked the High Court to find Luke Malaba in contempt of court, and jail him, for returning to work.

The High Court recently ruled that Malaba’s tenure as chief justice expired on 15 May when he turned 70, but he has defiantly continued going to work.

Speaking after the court case, Lawyer Wilbert Mandinde, representing Zim NGO Forum director Musa Kika said, “ The court has ruled that the application filed by Musa kika be dismissed, we are yet to get the full judgment.”

The ruling means Malaba can be back in office until a ruling on the appeal has been given.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa extended Malaba’s term of office by an additional five-year beyond his retirement age, a move that was challenged and won by Musa Kika at the High Court on May 15.