Gutu’s sentiments follow Chief Justice, Godfrey Chidyausiku’s concerns about corruption within the justice delivery system. Chidyausiku made the comments during the official opening of the 2013 legal year on Monday at the Harare High Court.
Chidyausiku bemoaned corruption in the police, the prison service, the Attorney General’s office as well as among lawyers.
“There is serious corruption within the justice delivery system. You will find there is corruption in the police, the judiciary, the prosecution department and the prison department and all this is attributable to poor remuneration.”
Gutu said it was imperative for government to address working conditions for workers in the justice delivery system. He said as a result of poor remuneration, the government was failing to retain highly qualified staff.
“The main issue is the lack of financial and material resources and it becomes difficult to retain experienced staff,” said Gutu.
He said government remuneration for workers in the judicial sector was meagre compared to the private sector hence the exodus of personnel.
“There is a high staff turnover within government as most people gravitate towards the private sector. They are using government as a training ground and after that they go,” said Gutu.
In 2011, public prosecutors under the Zimbabwe Law Association went on a crippling strike over poor remuneration. By then, the public prosecutors were reported to be earning $250. Recent reports by anti-graft institutions indicate that Zimbabwe is considered one of the most corrupt countries in Africa.
Post published in: News