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Malaba heaps praise on Chidyausiku

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DEPUTY Chief Justice Luke Malaba, has heaped praises on his outgoing boss, Chief Justice (CJ) Godfrey Chidyausiku, for “fostering the respect of the rule of law in the country”.

DEPUTY Chief Justice Luke Malaba, has heaped praises on his outgoing boss, Chief Justice (CJ) Godfrey Chidyausiku, for “fostering the respect of the rule of law in the country”.

By KHANYILE MLOTSHWA

Justice Malaba
Justice Malaba

Malaba, who officiated at the official opening of the 2017 legal year in Bulawayo on Monday, said Chidyausiku was leaving behind an enduring legacy.

He described Chidyausiku, who retires next month, as a legal luminary, who significantly transformed the country’s judiciary during his tenure.

“Turning to 2017, we stand on the cusp of the CJ’s retirement on March 1, 2017,” he said.

“I am aware that the appropriate time will come to pay full tribute to the CJ upon his retirement. It would, however, be remiss of me not to celebrate the professional life of a great man and indeed a legal luminary, a man whose contribution to the development of this country and the judiciary is open for everyone to see.”

Malaba said the outgoing CJ transformed the legal field in the country.

“We are grateful for the legacy he will leave us. It is a legacy of a judiciary founded on the values of independence, accountability, integrity and respect for the rule of law. I thank him for his selfless dedication to duty and to his country,” he said.

“The judiciary is accountable to the people of Zimbabwe from whom it derives its judicial authority.

“Inspiring us is the recognition that public confidence in our system is the basic yardstick upon which we can measure our worth. People should see the judicial system as viable, responsive and fair. Access to justice means being treated fairly according to the law.

“Should you be treated unfairly, you should be able to get the appropriate redress. It means availing to the ordinary citizenry the platform to actively participate in every institution where law is debated, created, organised, administered, interpreted and applied.”

Malaba is one of three judges hoping to succeed Chidyausiku after the Judiciary Service Commission held public interviews to pick the next CJ.

The interviews, and process of finding the next CJ, has however, proven contentious, with Chidyausiku on Monday revealing the underhand machinations to derail the process.