Orirando Manwere
16 November 2007
(Page 2 of 2)
Blackie was suspended while a three-man tribunal was set up to investigate his conduct.
However, he was found not guilty of serious misconduct and President Mugabe later revoked his suspension and he resumed his duties.
In September 2002, Blackie was arrested on charges of breaching the Prevention of Corruption Act or alternatively defeating the course of justice following his alleged improper handling of a case involving a white woman.
However, in July 2003, the state withdrew obstruction of justice charges against Blackie who later resigned.
Following the resignation of previous members of the High and Supreme Court benches, a new team led by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku was appointed.
The current benches have also made a number of rulings which have been ignored by the police and other state agents, making a mockery of the role of the judiciary.
The recent arrest and assaults of lawyers Beatrice Mtetwa, Harrison Nkomo, Alec Muchadehama and Andrew Makoni, among others, while in the course of their duties and the harassment of staff from the AG's office accused of acceding to bail applications by opposition MDC members has cast a dark shadow on the independence of the judiciary in Zimbabwe.
The award of farms to judges has raised questions about their ability to make impartial rulings in cases involving land or the powers of the state.
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