CHIEF Justice Luke Malaba has implored Judicial Service Commission (JSC) officials and staff to be committed to their duties to help improve service delivery.
Malaba, who is JSC chairperson, was speaking at a two-day registrars and sheriffs conference in Nyanga recently.
He said the conference was a continuation of a series of other meetings and workshops aimed at enhancing skills of those involved in the administration of justice.
The conference followed the station administration workshop held in June this year.
Malaba said the conference’s theme promoted commitment to duty and service delivery as essentials in the improvement of the quality of justice.
“The specific reference to registrars and sheriffs highlights that every office in the JSC has a defined role in the administration of justice. Accordingly, one has to understand the demands of their roles before they can effectively exercise their duty,” he said.
“This means that a registrar or a member of the Sheriff’s department who is committed to his or her duty cannot simply be a mere occupant of his or her office. He or she cannot just rest on the prestige associated with his or her rank without conforming to the demands imposed on his or her office by the law. This standard is applicable to every office that is involved in the law and justice sector.”
Malaba urged registrars and sheriffs to dispense their duties timely, with an emphasis on the principles of inclusion, fairness and equity.
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“Every public office exists for a far greater purpose than just meeting defined departmental targets. Contrary to common perception, the quality of justice is not only contingent upon the conduct of judges, but also relies on other administrative offices such as the registry department and the sheriff’s department,” he said.
“For example, procrastination in the High Court registry negatively impacts the ability of the Supreme Court registry to set down matters for appeal or execution of orders by the Sheriff.”
He said public negative backlash would not only affect the High Court registry, but the entire justice system, including uninvolved third parties.
“This is why every public office involved in the administration of justice should be a driver of quality service. The finer aspects of the theme will be elaborated upon in a presentation dedicated solely to that undertaking,” he said.
The meeting was attended by, among others, judges of the Supreme Court, the High Court and the Labour Court, Justice ministry secretary Virginia Mabhiza, JSC secretary Walter Chikwanha, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission chairperson Justice Joyce Matanda-Moyo, Law Society of Zimbabwe president Rumbidzai Matambo, Chief Magistrate Faith Mushure, Judicial Training Institute of Zimbabwe head Rosalie Kumbirai Katsande and JSC staff.
