The Judiciary Is Not Captured - Ziyambi Defends Malaba

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has dispelled widespread rumors and reports that the judiciary is captured. Ziyambi was responding to legislators in Parliament who wanted clarification on the matter after judges wrote to President Mnangagwa complaining about Justice Malaba.

Ziyambi said the judiciary is independent:

If the honourable member feels that there is interference in so far as the functioning of the judiciary is concerned, he can favour me with whatever interference he feels is being done.

As far as I am concerned, the judiciary is so much independent to do whatever they want and I cannot even interfere with their work myself.

Ziyambi went on to defend Malaba and said he does not interfere with other judges’ judgments:

..That is enshrined in the Constitution. There are also several provisions that insulate our judicial officers so that in the exercise of their duty, they must feel safe from whatever victimisation that they may encounter.

It also extends to the provision regarding their removal where the President would be requested to set up a tribunal to investigate that question against specific parameters,

However, the international community has also started pointing to the issue of a captured judiciary as evidenced by this footage of the British Parliament discussing Zimbabwe yesterday.

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