Lawyers criticize the government for contempt of court

The Zimbabwe Lawyers For Truth, Health, Justice, and Freedom has slammed the ZANU PF regime for its decision to unlawfully overturn a High Court ruling that allowed churches to accommodate unvaccinated congregants.

Last week, the High Court declared that the decision by the government to bar unvaccinated congregants from attending church services was null and void but the government ignored the ruling in defiance of the ruling.

The ZLTHJF said that the government should not undermine judicial independence by unlawfully overturning court orders.

“We take strong exception to this unlawful and contemptuous position taken by Cabinet and point out that in our law, a litigant who is aggrieved with a court decision must take necessary legal steps against that decision and not seek to undermine the court order or threaten unlawful action against the successful litigant,” the lawyers said.

Earlier this year the ZANU PF leader reaffirmed his support for judicial independence and called for the respect of the rule of law.
“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 of Zimbabwe wholeheartedly respects the independence of our judiciary,” President Mnangagwa said.

But the latest development appears to contradict the remarks made by the Mnangagwa