JSC defers court dates to May

THE Judicial Service Commission ( J SC) has pushed court dates for cases that were supposed to be heard this month to next month, after President Mnangagwa extended the lockdown by an additional 14 days on Sunday.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Chief Justice Luke Malaba, who chairs the JSC, said all pending criminal cases due to be tried this month will be heard after May 4, when the extended lockdown ends.

The table below gives the original date and the new date.

Different public holidays in April and May mean that an exact correspondence of adding five weeks to an April date does not always give an exact answer. Original date New date

30 March 4 May

31 March 5 May

1 April 6 May

2 April 7 May

3 April 8 May

6 April 11 May

7 April 12 May

8 April 13 May

9 April 14 May

10 April 15 May

14 April 18 May

15 April 19 May

16 April 20 May

17 April 21 May

20 April 22 May

21 April 26 May

22 April 27 May

23 April 28 May 24 April 29 May

27 April 1 June

28 April 2 June

29 April 3 June

30 April 4 June

“All summonses and subpoenas issued directing accused persons and witnesses to appear in court between April 20, 2020 and May 3, 2020 are cancelled and shall be reissued after the expiry of the lockdown period,” said Chief Justice Malaba.

“All sales i n execution are hereby stayed for the duration of the lockdown period. In light of the extension of the period of lockdown, this practice direction shall accordingly remain in effect until the expiry of the extended lockdown period.”