Judge addresses trial delays

Zimbabwe’s courts must expedite criminal trials in high-profile corruption cases, as delays have the potential to put the judiciary and criminal justice system into disrepute. That’s the view of Justice Tawanda Chitapi who dismised an application for permanent stay of prosecution by former Minister of State for Jason Machaya, former Mashonaland West provincial administrator Cecilia Chitiyo, and six other senior government employees on graft charges. The Herald reports that they argued that the trial magistrate did not consider whether a delay of more than 10 years in investigating their case violates their rights. Chitapi said several government ‘strongmen’ have been arrested on charges of criminal abuse of office, but few trials has been concluded because the accused appeals to the High Court in order to delay prosecution.

Full report in The Herald (subscription needed)