President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed ten new High Court judges and one judge for the Administrative Court, following the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). The appointments come after a rigorous selection process, which included public interviews of 39 candidates conducted by the JSC last month. The newly appointed judges will be officially sworn in by Chief Justice Luke Malaba on Monday next week.
The new members joining the High Court bench are:
– Mrs. Faith Mushure
– Mr. Ngoni Nduna
– Mr. Regis Demure
– Ms. Philipa Phillips
– Mr. Gibson Mandaza
– Mr. Joel Mambara
– Mr. Naison Chivhayo
– Mrs. Vivian Ndlovu
– Mr. Sijabuliso Siziba
– Mr. Mpokiseng Dube
Mr. Maxwell Kaitano has been appointed as the new judge for the Administrative Court.
Among the appointments, Mr. Naison Chivhayo’s inclusion has sparked significant debate and controversy on social media. The stir follows the leak of audios featuring prominent businessman Wicknell Chivayo, who claims to have substantial influence over President Mnangagwa’s administration. In the audios, Chivayo boasts about his close relationship with the President, even claiming to have personally seen Mnangagwa off to Italy, where the President purportedly called him “his son.”
Chivayo describes himself as a pivotal member of Mnangagwa’s inner circle and encourages his associates to leverage this connection for financial gain.
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He mentions past conflicts with Mnangagwa and the Lacoste faction during a period of heightened factionalism within ZANU-PF, but asserts that these issues have been resolved, and he has been welcomed back into the fold.
Chivayo’s declarations have raised questions about the integrity and independence of the judicial appointment process. Critics argue that such close ties between businessmen and political leaders undermine public confidence in the judiciary’s impartiality.
The businessman’s newfound wealth, reportedly accumulated through his relationship with the ruling party, has added fuel to the fire. Chivayo’s company, Intratek Zimbabwe, is known for its failure to deliver on a significant solar power project in Gwanda, further casting a shadow over his credibility.
Despite the controversy, the JSC’s secretary, Mr. Walter Chikwana, confirmed the appointments and announced the swearing-in ceremony for the new judges will take place next week.
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