Harare – It was a packed, expectant gallery – many came to witness the public interviews of prospective Supreme Court Judges to fill four v...
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Harare – It was a packed, expectant gallery – many came to witness the public interviews of prospective Supreme Court Judges to fill four vacant posts – judges who decide people’s fate for a living – now they were quizzed, publicly – testing their aptness.
First to bolt onto the firing line chaired by Chief Justice, Godfrey Chidyausiku plus other seven Commissioners of the Judicial Service Commission, was Justice Francis Bere.By @Comic24Derick
Interrogations were dispatched in all formats, angles – drawing equally curious responses.
What has been the most satisfying judgment you delivered as a High Court judge?
“It was the judgment of a China company versus Standard Chartered Zimbabwe. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe gave a directive to transfer foreign currency to its account. I felt that if banks would operate in that way, there will be chaos in the banking sector.
He then ordered Standard Chartered Bank to pay back – a position upheld by the Supreme Court.
The prospective judge was not done yet.
“Delayed judgment has to do with procrastination. I have to shake off that. You have to recklessly courageous in handling of matters, so that you are able to deal with matters as a judge.
“One must live with the oath of the office, serve the rich, the poor and the weak,” he responded to a question on delayed judgment.
On the interview panel, she was the least qualified candidate, ranked 20 in the High Court perking order – but she is eloquent, exuding with rare poise.
“You solicited a $20 000 bribe from Mr Kanokanga so the he can win a case. There are aspects of his complaint that have some truths.
“The alleged may have fabricated these stories. We don’t have investigative machinery…”
When she was offered a chance to respond, she did not upset the expecting crowd – she flatly denied ‘soliciting any bribe.’
The hallway was silent – probably to digest her feedback. Her bold declarations could have spruced Justice Priscilla Chigumba’s cause.
What has been the most satisfying judgment you delivered as a High Court judge?
“It was the judgment of a China company versus Standard Chartered Zimbabwe. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe gave a directive to transfer foreign currency to its account. I felt that if banks would operate in that way, there will be chaos in the banking sector.
He then ordered Standard Chartered Bank to pay back – a position upheld by the Supreme Court.
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| Supreme Court Judge Interviews |
The prospective judge was not done yet.
“Delayed judgment has to do with procrastination. I have to shake off that. You have to recklessly courageous in handling of matters, so that you are able to deal with matters as a judge.
“One must live with the oath of the office, serve the rich, the poor and the weak,” he responded to a question on delayed judgment.
On the interview panel, she was the least qualified candidate, ranked 20 in the High Court perking order – but she is eloquent, exuding with rare poise.
“You solicited a $20 000 bribe from Mr Kanokanga so the he can win a case. There are aspects of his complaint that have some truths.
“The alleged may have fabricated these stories. We don’t have investigative machinery…”
When she was offered a chance to respond, she did not upset the expecting crowd – she flatly denied ‘soliciting any bribe.’
The hallway was silent – probably to digest her feedback. Her bold declarations could have spruced Justice Priscilla Chigumba’s cause.
“I deliver judgments expeditiously. My judgments represent quality rather than quantity and most appear in Law Reports.”
And yet another ‘offense’ – she cited the Chief Justice as one of her referees – and the esteemed judge did not spare her seemingly waning status.
“…But you know as a judge that it is wrong.”
Again, she said her resume was prepared for another post besides this one. Justice Alphas Chitakunye was the third candidate.
And Deputy Chief Justice Malaba ceased the occasion to grill him on ‘few’ 69 judgments he wrote – compared to his junior, who delivered 333 verdicts over the same period.
“I won’t promise to write 100 judgments when I come to the Supreme Court – but I am more worried about research,” reasoned the learned judge.
The longest interval was taken by Justice Samuel Kudya. He was poetic in relating his daily work routine.
“The day of a Tax Court judge is very taxing…I am a trailblazer. I have worked in enchanted waters…”
Then the anticlimax followed. The ‘trailblazer’ had ‘failed’ to articulate on the collegiality principal applied at the highest Court.
Hushed laughing tones sounded in the gallery.
“How do you expect to work in the Supreme Court if you do not know the day-to-day running of the court?” Justice Luke Malaba probed.
Justice Charles Hungwe followed – but a 2014 ‘sex romp case’ trailed him in which his alleged lover died in the act.
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