More judges got govt farms
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/
October 5, 2012 in News, Politics
INVESTIGATIONS by the Zimbabwe Independent have revealed that at least 10
judges — far more than initially thought — benefited from the country’s
chaotic land reform programme raising fears of a compromised bench.
Report by Elias Mambo
President Robert Mugabe launched a controversial and often-violent land
reform programme which dispossessed thousands of white commercial farmers of
productive farmland in what government said was a move to resettle landless
blacks and address historical injustices.
However, most of the prime farmland was grabbed by senior Zanu PF officials
who are now failing to utilise it fully, leaving vast tracts of once
productive agricultural land lying derelict. Zanu PF has resisted calls for
a land audit as outlined in the Global Political Agreement. About 10 Supreme
and High Court judges are listed among prominent beneficiaries of the
expropriated farms.
Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku owns Estes Park (255 hectares); Ben
Hlatshwayo, Kent Estate (800ha); Charles Hungwe,Gretton Farm; Mafios Cheda,
Marula Block 37 (3 039ha); Antonia Guvava, Harndale Farm (1 000ha), Luke
Malaba, Marula Block 35 (18 866ha); Paddington Garwe, Mount Shannon Estate;
and Mishrod Guvamombe, Georgia Farm.
Some of the judges have confirmed, through their clerks, that they
benefitted from the land reform programme, while others are yet to respond
to questions sent by the Independent about three weeks ago.
Justice Hungwe confirmed he owned Gretton Farm saying “just like any other
citizen I am entitled to benefit from a government scheme”.
Hlatshwayo also confirmed he owns a farm, but said this does not interfere
with his work. Judge Alphias Chitakunye could neither deny nor confirm he
owns a farm.
According to his clerk, Chitakunye asked: “Why does he (reporter) want that
information?”
Several judges are involved in farm-ownership wrangles. High Court judge
Chinembiri Bhunu is currently entangled in an ownership dispute over Daskop
Farm in Marondera with University of Zimbabwe lecturer Professor Lovemore
Gwanzura.
Justice Francis Bere has been accused of encroaching into land owned by
other resettled farmers in Manicaland. The boundary wars resulted in damage
to property owned by the different farmers as the judge tried to enforce an
eviction order.
Judges have been blasted for receiving farms, cars, houses, television sets
and generators from government as critics believe this could affect the
impartial discharge of their duties.
In 2008, Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono gave judges top-of-the-range
Mercedes-Benz E280 vehicles, plasma television sets, laptops and generators
to beat constant power outages at the height of hyperinflation.
Beatrice Mtetwa, who was president of the Law Society of Zimbabwe then,
blasted the move saying it could make the judiciary open to abuse and
compromise the administration of justice.
Deputy Justice and Legal Affairs minister Obert Gutu has repeatedly accused
the judiciary of corruption, saying it was not advisable for any serving
judicial officer to accept an offer of land in circumstances that would
inevitably compromise that officer’s professional integrity.
Addressing delegates at the official launch of the code of ethics for judges
and the Judicial Service Commission’s strategic plan in April, Chidyausiku
said Zimbabwe’s judiciary was terribly under-funded, fuelling corruption in
the justice delivery system.