Justice Bere And His Legal Team Walk Out Of His Hearing
The team representing Justice Francis Bere and the Judge himself walked out of a tribunal hearing investigating a complaint levelled against the judge, The Herald reports. Justice Bere and his team walked out of the hearing in protest after their application to have one of the lawyers who is part of the hearing’s panellists Advocate Takawira Nzombe recuse himself from the panel rejected.
Justice Bere’s team made the application for Nzombe to recuse himself because they allege that he is linked to Harare lawyer Mr Itayi Ndudzo, a key witness in the Judge’s case.
Commenting on the hearing that has seen 10 Witnesses so far testifying on the case, Justice Ministry Secretary Virginia Mabhiza said;
Unless the need to call for other evidence arises, the intention is to close the hearing of oral evidence after the testimony of the two outstanding witnesses.
Thereafter, the evidence leaders will give their closing address summarising the evidence presented, what they argue as evidence established, and whether or not the proved facts, if any, amount to gross misconduct on the part of the honourable judge.
Once this is concluded, the commissioners will proceed to consider all the evidence presented before them and compile their findings in a report for presentation to his Excellency the President of Zimbabwe.
The Judge who is before tribunal inquiry which seeks to determine his fitness to hold office after he telephoned the chief witness Itayi Ndudzo who was representing ZINARA in a case involving his relatives’ case has been dragging since his suspension earlier this year and the High court has dismissed almost all of his applications related to the case.
More: The Herald
