Mugabe accused of nominating sympathetic judges
Zimbabwe is to expand the Supreme Court to eight judges from five, a move the opposition called an effort to pack compliant judges onto a court that has often ruled against the Government.
Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the appointments to the nation’s highest court were meant to cope with an anticipated increase in appeals, including those by white farmers contesting the confiscation of their land.
More labour disputes in the ailing economy were also expected to be appealed, he said.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change said the move ‘‘smells of dubious intentions’’ to pack the court in favour of President Robert Mugabe’s Government and added that there was no need to expand the court.
Recent changes to legislation empowered the High Court to handle many appeals, effectively lessening the Supreme Court’s duties, said opposition spokesman Learnmore Jongwe.
‘‘The real intention is to water down the independence and integrity of the highest court and create a pliant bench,’’ he said.
The nation’s judiciary has been under mounting pressure from the Government and ruling party militants after several court rulings that declared a ‘‘fast track’’ land confiscation program illegal.
Former Chief Justice Anthony Gubbay formally retired last month under Government pressure and the Government warned other justices they would not be protected from ruling party militants who stormed the court last December and threatened to drive its judges from office.
The Law Society, a private independent association of lawyers, said it was evaluating the appointment of Misheck Cheda, Vernanda Ziyambi and Luke Malaba to the Supreme Court ahead of more senior colleagues.
Some lawyers had expressed fears the appointments were a bid to influence future rulings.
