Justice delivery system working well — NPA
THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) received more than 79 000 criminal cases and completed at least 44 000 this year.
Addressing prosecutors from across the country, the police, Zimbabwe AntiCorruption Commission (Zacc) and delegates attending the NPA strategic plan review workshop in Gweru yesterday, acting Prosecutor General Mr Nelson Mutsonziwa said the justice delivery system in the country was working well.
“In regard to other criminal matters, this year, we have received a total of 79 064 cases of which 44 918 have been completed and the remaining cases are at various stages of prosecution. I expect that by the end of the year the majority of the cases would be completed,” he said.
Mr Mutsonziwa said there was great co-operation among institutions with oversight roles in the fight against corruption like the police, Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Zacc among others leading to the successful completion of criminal cases.
The remaining cases, he said, are at different stages while others are waiting for judgement.
“I therefore, wish to commend you for your robust efforts in executing your prosecutorial mandate without fear, favour or bias and to urge you to continue to aggressively apply yourselves with dignity in our efforts to eradicate crime and corruption in our society,” said Mr Mutsonziwa.
He said the NPA has a duty to not only prosecute criminals to the full extent of the law but also to ensure that criminals and their associates are disgorged of property acquired from or used in the commission of crime.
Mr Mutsonziwa said the law allows for both conviction and non-convictionbased asset forfeiture.
“A number of corruptly acquired assets have thus been recovered from criminals using both methods of asset forfeiture, some of which are now under the management of the Asset Management Unit and so far, corruptly acquired assets worth US$5,6 million have been forfeited by our courts and the pending cases that are before the courts involve corruptly acquired assets worth US$20 million,” he said.
Mr Mutsonziwa said corruption is without doubt a major threat and stumbling block to the realisation of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) as it impedes development and the realisation of human rights.
It is therefore, in the public interest and in the interest of justice, he said, that persons facing corruption allegations are brought to trial and effectively and efficiently prosecuted with a minimum of delay.
“To that extent it has been agreed by the National Anti-Corruption Strategy Steering Committee that non-complex corruption cases be completed within six months and complex matters within a period of 12 months. I therefore urge you to adhere to these guidelines and prioritise the prosecution of corruption cases so as to effectively defeat this scourge and contribute to the realisation of the NDS1,” said Mr Mutsonziwa.
He said the establishment of Zacc and the Police Anti-Corruption Unit (PACU) within the ZRP as well as the establishment of anti-corruption courts across the country which are being manned by specially trained judicial officers and prosecutors has made it possible to make remarkable inroads in the combating of corruption.
“The statistics cited above therefore give a strong indication that we are moving in the right direction. It is through these initiatives in my view that have resulted in corruption cases being timeously and effectively investigated, prosecuted and adjudicated thereby enhancing economic development,” said Mr Mutsonziwa.
He said in addition to the speedy prosecution of corruption cases, prosecutors are also urged to prioritise the prosecution of other cases of serious concern such as armed robbery, drugs, rape as well as theft and vandalism of property for the generation and distribution of electricity as they are also a serious threat not only to the lives of our people but also to the economic development the country.
Mr Mutsonziwa commended prosecutors for their commitment and dedication to their duties despite concerns regarding issues of remuneration and conditions of service which has seen the organisation losing some experienced prosecutors.
“Therefore, there is a need to retain experienced prosecutors by continuously improving their conditions of service as we need as many experienced prosecutors as possible in our current fight against serious crime and corruption, that include organised and transnational crimes,” he said.
Mr Mutsonziwa said the prosecution of serious cases of crime and corruption profoundly contributes immensely to the realisation of the rule of law, justice, peace, development, human rights and most importantly Government’s objective of an upper middle-income economy by the year 2030.
“It is therefore, my sincere hope that through improved conditions of service this will cushion them from interference and temptation posed by criminal elements,” he said.
Mr Mutsonziwa said the strategic plan review is being held in line with NDS1 in which the country is striving towards a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society by 2030.
“This workshop therefore affords us the opportunity to review our Strategic Planning document in line with the changes that have taken place in the environment that we work under. It also enables us to take stock and perfect our efforts in the implementation of the NDS1,” he said.