Zimbabwe prosecutors urged to remain apolitical

Prosecutor-General Loice Matanda-Moyo has called on prosecutors in Zimbabwe to maintain strict political neutrality and uphold constitutional principles as the foundation of their work, while pushing for faster and higher-quality prosecutions across the country.

Speaking at the opening of a Superior Courts Appeals Procedures training session in Harare on Monday, Matanda-Moyo said the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) must serve the public interest without fear or favour.

"We do not represent any partisan interest or political faction," she said. "We represent the Constitution and the 16 million people of Zimbabwe."

She warned that any deviation from professional standards, including poor case preparation, delays, or weak legal argumentation, undermines public confidence in the justice system.

"When we fail… when we lose cases we should have won, when we delay justice through ignorance, we do not simply lose a file. We erode public trust. We make a mockery of the scales of justice," she said.

Matanda-Moyo said the training programme, which involves senior private legal practitioners, is designed to equip prosecutors with advanced skills to handle complex matters before superior courts.

"I want prosecutors ready to respond immediately, decisively, and brilliantly," she said, stressing that inefficiency and avoidable delays will no longer be tolerated.

She also emphasised that prosecutorial work is not solely about securing convictions, but ensuring fairness and justice in every case.

"We do not seek convictions; we seek just outcomes," she said. "The prosecutor must always be right, and the prosecutor must be fair."

She further noted that both wrongful convictions and wrongful acquittals represent a failure of justice, reinforcing the need for balance and integrity in decision-making.

"Sending an innocent person to jail is exactly the same moral failure as acquitting a guilty one."

Matanda-Moyo also urged a shift in mindset between prosecutors and defence lawyers, saying they should not view each other as adversaries but as part of a broader justice system.

She said ongoing reforms within the NPAZ, including digitalisation and intensified training, are aimed at improving efficiency, professionalism, and public trust in the prosecution service.