Rude awakening for judge aspirant

A former High Court Registrar and candidate in the ongoing public interviews for aspiring judges got a rude awakening after he was served a notice of appeal for review of his fraud trial proceedings dating back to more than a decade ago.

Jacob Manzunzu, a senior lawyer and current registrar with the High Court of Botswana and a former registrar with the High Court of Zimbabwe is among the 11 lawyers and court officers plying their trade in the Diaspora who were interviewed on Friday aiming to be among the lucky 6 from the pool of 46 to be appointed High Court judges.

Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku asked the candidate of his criminal record and Manzunzu responded before the panel and members of the public in attendance that he was tried and acquitted on charges of fraud.

Unbeknown to him members from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) were lying in wait in the lobby of crown plaza ready to serve him with a notice of appeal for review of his acquittal.

He was served soon after exiting the great indaba at crown plaza with the notice in which the NPA has approached the appeal court citing gross irregularity of proceedings, miscarriage of justice, and unreasonableness of Manzunzu's acquittal by Regional Magistrate Clever Tsikwa.

The case against Manzunzu arose from an incident which occurred in 2000 when he was still Registrar and Sheriff of the High Court of Zimbabwe in Harare, where he allegedly corruptly bought a house in connivance with other accused persons and unlawfully transferred ownership to Tichaona Samuriwo.

This subsequently led to the eviction of Sibongile Manyimo from her property at 3 Rosedean Gardens, Ashdon Park and the sale of her vehicle.

During trial the NPA requested the trial magistrate to stand down the matter briefly to allow the retrieval of key documents to prove the state case and it was turned down, a position which the state case feels was misdirection on the part of the magistrate.

There were some light moments in Friday's session of interviews where candidates showed their characters, attitude and colourfulness.

The public interviews will wind down on Saturday where labour court judges aspiring to take up the 6 posts up for grabs will be interviewed.