ZLHR says the persecution of Justice Hungwe affects not only the independence and integrity of the judiciary, but also that of the legal profession.
According to ZLHR for such reasons, it is critical that the Chief Justice of Zimbabwe, the Judge President of the High Court and the Judicial Service Commission, together with the Law Society of Zimbabwe, take decisive action.
This persecution, ZLHR points out has been seen “through the defamatory assassination of his character, the malicious and false reporting, and the inciteful hate speech in the state-controlled media and other partisan outlets”.
“This is not only a measure to protect the judicial officer concerned, but also one that is vital to reassure the entire bench at every level, as well as the legal profession in the public and private sector, that they will be free to undertake their professional and constitutional duties without fear or favour and not be victimized as a result of non-legal concerns and motives,” ZLHR said in a statement.
Justice Hungwe has recently come under fierce criticism in some sections of the media over how he handled two cited cases.
In one case, he reportedly failed to pass sentence on an individual whom he had convicted of murder and robbery after he lost the court record.
Justice Hungwe, in another case was also reported to have unprocedurally granted a notice of withdrawal in a house wrangle pitting Old Mutual chief executive, Mr Jonas Mushosho and a man who bought the latter’s property.
ZLHR says it has been monitoring, with increasing concern, recent reportage in the state-controlled and other “partisan media” which, when read in its entirety, constitutes a professional and personal attack on a well-respected judge of the High Court of Zimbabwe as well as a broader and more disturbing assault on the independence and integrity of the judiciary and legal profession in Zimbabwe.
The Law Society of Zimbabwe has also said it is concerned by what it called an “onslaught” on Justice Hungwe.
Post published in: News