The Herald (Zimbabwe)

Another judge to appear before tribunal

- Fidelis Munyoro Chief Court Reporter

HIGH Court judge Justice Erica Ndewere will be facing a tribunal after the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) recommende­d to President Mnangagwa to set one up to look into her suitabilit­y to hold office.

Justice Ndewere is facing allegation­s of misconduct and conduct inconsiste­nt with being a judicial officer.

Her suspension from the bench will be automatic by operation of law once the tribunal is put in place.

If the tribunal clears her, she returns to the bench; if the tribunal makes other findings and recommenda­tions she could well lose her post. The tribunal is not a criminal court, but can report that certain conduct is not consistent with holding judicial office.

This brings to two the number of judges that have allegedly conducted themselves in a manner that constitute­s judicial misconduct, and which calls for a tribunal hearing.

Supreme Court judge Justice Bere is on suspension pending the outcome of the tribunal that probed him and is now compiling its report to the President.

Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliament­ary Affairs Mrs virginia Mabhiza yesterday confirmed that JSC had referred the matter to President Mnangagwa, the appointing authority, for a judicial tribunal in terms of the Constituti­on.

“The JSC has referred to the President a recommenda­tion to set up a tribunal to inquire into the question of removal from office of Justice Erica Ndewere, a High Court judge,” she said without giving details of the allegation­s levelled against the judge.

“A tribunal will be constitute­d very soon and in terms of the Constituti­on, the judge will be suspended once the tribunal has been set up.”

Justice Bere’s three-member tribunal chaired by retired judge Justice Simbi Mubako last week completed its inquiry into Justice Bere’s fitness to hold the office of a judge.

However, Justice Bere’s investigat­ions were concluded in his absence after he and his legal team walked out on the proceeding­s in protest over the tribunal’s refusal to have one of its members, Advocate Takawira Nzombe, recuse himself because of his alleged links to Harare lawyer Mr Itayi Ndudzo, who was a crucial witness in the inquiry.

Justice Bere faced the tribunal on the recommenda­tion of the JSC after Mr Ndudzo accused the judge of interferen­ce in a civil case involving the Zimbabwe National Road Administra­tion (Zinara) and his relatives.

Justice Bere was serving on both the Constituti­onal Court and Supreme Court benches when he was suspended in March this year.

The tribunal sought to establish whether or not Justice Bere conducted himself improperly in violation of the oath of office and the Constituti­on by interferin­g in the matter at the centre of the inquiry.

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