Story by John Nhandara
FIVE new commissioners of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) have been sworn in, pledging to uphold their responsibilities in the administration of justice.
The commissioners took their oaths before Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza at the Constitutional Court in Harare, committing to serve the judiciary and the people of Zimbabwe.
“We will work in the interest of the judiciary and the people in Zimbabwe,” JSC Commissioner Mr Valentine Mutatu said.
“Absolute honour given the importance placed on those roles, the responsibility to safeguard governance of the judicial system in Zimbabwe,” Commissioner-JSC Ms Alice Chipo Nyamugama said
“It’s not a small responsibility because I am serving at the apex of the Judicial system in Zimbabwe,” Commissioner-JSC Mr Lison Ncube said.
Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Secretary Mr Walter Chikwana said the new commissioners are expected to set policy in terms of how the JSC is supposed to function.
“Their roles are provided for in the Constitution of Zimbabwe to provide advice to the Government of Zimbabwe on the administration of justice, to deal with matters relating to the employment of members of the judicial service, and this includes judges, magistrates, and non-judicial members, and to deal with issues of discipline of members of the Judicial Service Commission.”
They also set policy in terms of how the Judicial Service Commission is supposed to function and in terms of how the courts will play their role in the administration of justice in this country,” he said.
The swearing-in of the new commissioners comes at a time the JSC continues to advance structural and technological reforms across the country’s legal sector to streamline efficiency and safeguard public trust in the rule of law.
