There are 147 corruption-related cases currently pending within the country`s courts, the Judicial Service Commission has said.
The country has established anti-corruption courts at the High Courts to specifically deal with the vice, which has become rampant in Zimbabwe.
The head of the JSC, Chief Justice Luke Malaba, speaking at the official opening of the 2023 Legal Year in Harare on Monday, said 147 corruption-related cases were being dealt with by the courts and 21 cases had been finalized.
“Currently, there are 147 corruption-related cases pending in the courts. Of these cases, 89 are either in progress or have been finalized, with 16 cases having trial dates, whilst 52 cases trials have commenced and 21 cases have already been finalised”.
Chief Justice Malaba said the statistics showed that law enforcement agents and prosecutors were working hard to bring perpetrators of corruption to book and were serious about fighting corruption.
“These statics do not indicate a country that is not taking the fight against corruption seriously” He added, “They show arresting agents and prosecution agents are busy at work. “
He said other state arms and institutions should observe the independence of the judiciary by not interfering with its mandate.
“When the courts make decisions and are seen are allowed to perform their duties with the independence in partiality and expedition required by the law for the resolution of disputes, public confidence in the judicial service is enhanced,” Malaba said.
The Chief Justice also warned judicial officers against underhand dealings that undermined the integrity of the courts.