GWERU – The Bulawayo High Court has so far received 13 applications from companies seeking to be placed under judicial management and provisional liquidation.
Report by Blessed Mhlanga/Stephen Chadenga
High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese, who made the revelations at the official opening of the Gweru High Court circuit yesterday, attributed the trend to the prevailing political and economic instability.
“This situation can only be resolved by the stabilisation of the political and socio-economic environment in the country,” he said.
“It is hoped that the holding of successful elections shall usher a new era of peace, national unity and stability based on the establishment of firm democratic institutions,” said Makonese.
The current economic situation has left Bulawayo, the former hub of industry and commerce in Zimbabwe, reeling under economic collapse.
Several top companies have either shut down or are on the verge of closing, leaving many jobless and swimming in poverty.
Other statistics of the Bulawayo High Court released show that divorce summons in 2012 went up by 113 to 519 as compared to 2011 figures where the court dealt with 406 summons.
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A total of 325 bail applications were received in 2012, while 74 criminal trials were set down in the same year.
Justice Makonese said of these 74, only 19 cases were completed, while 55 are still pending owing to challenges of securing witnesses.
Meanwhile, the judge called for scientific research into the upsurge in cases of rape that keep rising despite deterrent sentences passed by the courts.
He said there was need to conduct a research to curb the scourge.
He said stiffer penalties imposed by the courts had failed to achieve desired results.
“In spite of the heavy sentences imposed against offenders in rape cases by our courts, the number of rape cases reported and prosecuted remains extremely high,” Justice Makonese said.
“The rape of young girls by mature adult male persons is prevalent and I would urge that scientific research be conducted to establish the real causes behind the scourge.”
The judge challenged the police to be more professional when dealing with cases of sexual abuse and domestic violence.
“Members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police should treat victims with care and compassion and should not subvert justice by showing favour to offenders through the acceptance of bribes or some other unworthy and dishonorable practices,” he said.
Justice Makonese also took a swipe at court officials, accusing them of passing what he termed “glaringly lenient and inappropriate”, sentences adding this had eroded public trust in the justice delivery system.
“In several review cases that come before the High Court there are worrying sentences which are glaringly lenient and inappropriate.
“The public will tend to lose confidence in our court system where inappropriate sentences are imposed for serious cases of domestic violence,” he said.
The Gweru High Court session will in the next two weeks deal with 20 murder cases from the Midlands Province.
