High court judge Bhuru under fire

HIGH Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu on Monday came under fire from both the defence and prosecution who blasted him for failing to attend court on time in the high-profile diamond fraud trial. 
The judge is presiding over the trial of Core Mining director Lovemore Kurotwi and former ZMDC chief executive Dominic Mubaiwa accused of allegedly defrauding Government of US$ 2 billion.
They raised the complaint after the trial, which was set to resume at 10am in Court A, could not start because Justice Bhunu did not turn up.
Justice Bhunu only attended court around 1650 hours although the case had been set for hearing yesterday morning.
"My clerk is at a funeral we had double booked this case with a civil matter I was attending to. After attending to this matter this is when I realised that it was set for today," Justice Bhunu said in his apology for the mix-up. He said he was ready to proceed with the case.
However, the defence lawyer Advocate Lewis Uriri asked to have the case postponed to today to sum up the cross examination of State witness â€" ZMDC chairman Mr Godwills Masimirembwa.
Both the defence and prosecution were not amused by the time wasting by the court. 
"This is disrespectful. The honourable judge should have informed us that he is committed elsewhere so that we don't come here.
"Our clients are paying us for just sitting," another defence lawyer, Mrs Beatrice Mtetwa, said.
Chief Law Officer Mr Chris Mutangadura, who is representing the State, echoed the same sentiments about the failure by the court to resume on the agreed time. Earlier, the defence and prosecution went to the chambers of Judge President Justice George Chiweshe seeking assistance after waiting in court for almost six hours.
"We went to the JP (Justice Chiweshe) who said he (Justice Bhunu) should deal with his matter," Advocate Lewis Uriri told journalists and about 18 people in the public gallery who came to hear the case.
The trial continues today (Tuesday).