The two-week industrial action by public prosecutors has ended and the law officers throughout the country reported for duty yesterday amid concerns of an increased case backlog.
This followed a resolution by Zimbabwe Lawyers Association (Ziloa) after meeting with acting Secretary for Justice, Maxwell Ranga, over the salary impasse on Thursday last week.
In a letter addressed to Ranga, Ziloa wrote: “Pursuant to the meeting held between your office and the association on October 12, and following a wider consultation with its members, the association has accepted your plea to temporarily give your office some reprieve to sort out outstanding issues”.
“By October 31, payments should be reflecting in our members’ accounts or at least concrete proof of intention and commitment to pay. Failure to meet the above conditions will automatically entitle the association to continue with the strike without any notice.”
Ziloa president Leopold Mudisi yesterday confirmed his members had reported for duty.
“We are back at work and we have encouraged our members to work hard and make up for the lost time. We have also given the ministry two weeks to sort out the issue or we will go back to the street,” Mudisi said. The strike impacted heavily on the country’s regional and high courts which were supposed to be manned mainly by Ziloa members.
However, there was minimal interruption at the lower courts since security forces took charge, to fill the void.
Ziloa executive, which was leading the industrial action, was seeking redress over salary discrepancies which saw magistrates earning more than them despite holding similar qualifications.
