News / Local
Kasukuwere election agent yet to respond to JSC
21 Aug 2023 at 01:39hrs | Views
THE Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has written to exiled former Cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere's election agent Jacqueline Sande asking her to retract her fierce criticism of the country's Judiciary.
This was after the Judiciary barred the former Zanu-PF political commissar from participating in the August 23 elections.
Following the Supreme Court ruling that upheld the High Court decision to axe Kasukuwere as an independent presidential candidate, Sande accused the Judiciary of usurping "the people's power to decide who leads them".
She also claimed that the fate of the country had been captured by a few individuals.
In a letter, JSC demanded that Sande retracts her statements within seven days commencing from August 18.
"In the circumstances, we write this letter to request an immediate retraction of ALL the objectionable and offensive statements you made on July 28, 2023, at a Press conference via a public Press conference and a written public notice coupled with a written letter of apology to the Supreme Court for the injury caused to its reputation and standing by your false statements," the letter read.
In her fierce criticism of the Judiciary, Sande also accused the courts of working hand-in-glove with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Zanu-PF presidential candidate.
"The statements you made have the effect of scandalising the court and its judges by ascribing to it political motivation in its decision. It is not true that the court and the judges are colluding with political parties and other political players as you stated.
"As a legal practitioner, you must be aware that it is not uncommon for decisions of the courts to be handed down ex tempore and later followed by a full judgment. The inflammatory and reckless utterances you, therefore, made in the circumstances were not warranted. More so, you did not at anytime as is the norm by legal practitioners request written reasons from the Supreme Court," the JSC letter further read.
This was after the Judiciary barred the former Zanu-PF political commissar from participating in the August 23 elections.
Following the Supreme Court ruling that upheld the High Court decision to axe Kasukuwere as an independent presidential candidate, Sande accused the Judiciary of usurping "the people's power to decide who leads them".
She also claimed that the fate of the country had been captured by a few individuals.
In a letter, JSC demanded that Sande retracts her statements within seven days commencing from August 18.
"In the circumstances, we write this letter to request an immediate retraction of ALL the objectionable and offensive statements you made on July 28, 2023, at a Press conference via a public Press conference and a written public notice coupled with a written letter of apology to the Supreme Court for the injury caused to its reputation and standing by your false statements," the letter read.
In her fierce criticism of the Judiciary, Sande also accused the courts of working hand-in-glove with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Zanu-PF presidential candidate.
"The statements you made have the effect of scandalising the court and its judges by ascribing to it political motivation in its decision. It is not true that the court and the judges are colluding with political parties and other political players as you stated.
"As a legal practitioner, you must be aware that it is not uncommon for decisions of the courts to be handed down ex tempore and later followed by a full judgment. The inflammatory and reckless utterances you, therefore, made in the circumstances were not warranted. More so, you did not at anytime as is the norm by legal practitioners request written reasons from the Supreme Court," the JSC letter further read.
Source - newsday