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Call for Violence-Free Elections in Zim
Zimbabwe's top judge has called for elections slated for later this year to be violence-free, as ill-preparedness raised fears of a repeat of previously bloody polls.
Chief justice, Godfrey Chidyausiku, says that, "We add our voice to those who are calling for free and fair elections that are held in a violence-free atmosphere."
Chidyausiku is of the view that while the courts stand ready to hear cases relating to the forthcoming elections, he hopes that litigation if any, relating to the running of and the results emerging from the polls, will be very little.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch warned that the country is well behind schedule with vital reforms needed to ensure a credible and violence-free election.
To read the article titled, “Zimbabwe judge calls for free vote in upcoming elections,” click here.Source:Times LiveSANRAL Not Opposing e-Toll Interdict
The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) has opted not to oppose the interdict against the implementation of e-tolling.
Tolling on parts of Gauteng’s national highways was brought to a halt after the first phase of a court challenge that was brought by a group, including the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA).
OUTA chairperson, Wayne Duvenage, says that SANRAL was given 10 days to file an appeal against the ruling by Judge Bill Prinsloo that prevented tolling but failed to do so by the deadline on 15 May 2012.
To read the article titled, “SANRAL steps aside as interdict goes unopposed,” click here.Source:Mail & GuardianZim Slams SA Court’s Ruling
Zimbabwe's justice minister, Patrick Chinamasa, has denounced a South African court's ruling ordering an investigation of those accused of torturing ZANU-PF opponents.
Chinamasa points out that, “The ruling brings the South African justice system into disrepute. No specifics have been identified, because they should have laid a blow-by-blow account of what crime has been committed.”
The ruling follows a case by the Southern Africa Litigation Centre and the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, in which the two organisations wanted SA to arrest and prosecute 17 Zimbabweans accused of torture in 2007 if they enter the country for holiday, shopping or seeking medical treatment.
To read the article titled, “Zim government divided over SA torture ruling,” click here.Source:Mail & GuardianNGOs: Prosecute Human Rights Violators
Two NGOs, Southern Africa Litigation Centre and Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, want South Africa to prosecute Zimbabwean officials accused of crimes against humanity.
The North Gauteng High Court will hear a landmark case on South Africa’s obligations as a signatory to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
As a signatory to the Rome Statute, which it incorporated into national law by passing the Implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Act 27 of 2002, SA committed itself to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of serious international crimes, irrespective of where they take place.
To read the article titled, “Court to hear argument on SA prosecuting Zimbabwean officials,” click here.Source:Business DayLack of Commitment Dooms Africa's Human Rights Court
According an article by Webster Zambara of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights received a total of 10 cases, despite countless human rights violations across the continent.
Zambara says that even the deadline for an essay competition for law students in African universities to promote the court and its activities, has been extended from 31 January to 30 June because of too few takers.
In addition, despite the high proportion of women among victims of human-rights abuses in Africa, there are only two female judges among the court's 11.
Webster Zambara is a senior project leader for the Southern Africa desk at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation.
To read the article titled, “Lack of commitment dooms Africa's human rights court,” click here.Source:Mail & GuardianManyi Defends Govt Over Judiciary
The government insists that a proposed assessment of the Constitutional Court's judgments is not an attempt to undermine judicial independence.
Spokesperson, Jimmy Manyi, has been quoted as saying that, “We don't want to review the Constitutional Court, we want to review its powers."
Manyi also states that the assessment is an evaluation of the impact of the country’s jurisprudence on the democratisation process.
To read the article titled, “Cabinet defends Zuma's plan to review judiciary,” click here.Source:Mail & Guardian
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