Health officials stuck in 4-year court limbo

Three former senior officials at Masvingo Provincial Hospital remain trapped in a legal battle that has dragged on for four years, highlighting long-standing concerns about Zimbabwe's sluggish justice system.

The trio - accountant Helga Mano, procurement assistant Dzotso Chimedza Hamphrey Gibbs, and principal human resources officer Shadreck Zangairai - were arrested in 2021 over a disputed payment for a hospital washing machine. Prosecutors allege the machine was paid for but never delivered.

Since then, the case has barely moved forward. Court proceedings have been repeatedly postponed due to the failure of the State's key witness, former provincial medical director Dr Noel Zulu, to attend hearings.

Legal experts say such delays are common in Zimbabwe's courts, where missing witnesses, incomplete dockets, and understaffed courts cause cases to drag on indefinitely. "This is a textbook example of justice delayed, which is justice denied," said lawyer Advocate Martin Mavhunga. "Not only are the accused left in limbo, but the public loses faith in the ability of the courts to deliver accountability."

Relatives of the accused expressed frustration, saying their families have endured years of financial and emotional strain. "Our lives have been on hold since 2021. We are neither found guilty nor cleared, and yet society already views us as criminals," said a family member outside court.

The drawn-out saga has also raised concerns about wastage of resources in the justice system. Each postponement forces the State to mobilise prosecutors, police, and clerks for proceedings that never proceed.

Civil society organisations have called for judicial reforms, including stricter timelines for witness attendance and case resolution, to prevent ordinary citizens from being trapped in endless legal processes.