The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is now increasingly being manned by soldiers, some of whom are not qualified.
Last week the newly-appointed Prosecutor-general refused to prosecute a group of 10 security agents made up from the Military Intelligence, Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) and the police’s internal security. The group is accused of robbing a Mbare tavern owner during ShutDownZim.
A source from within the NPA who spoke to The Standard said:
Senior prosecutors are now taking orders from the guys from the military. In fact, the trained lawyers are now concentrating on set down of cases and vetting them only. The real work at the courts is now being done by soldiers who do not know the law.
Most prosecutors handling cases involving public violence at Harare magistrates courts are soldiers. All matters that are sensitive are held by this team hence the matter could not proceed.
Ministry of Justice permanent secretary Virginia Mabhiza said that they are in the process of removing soldiers from the NPA. She said:
The matter is still pending at the Constitutional Court but as the government, we would want the NPA to be manned by civilians. We would want the NPA to be demilitarised and I understand the NPA has started doing that.