The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has apologised to private doctors after they complained about delays they encounter in court when they are summoned to testify as witnesses during court proceedings.
On Wednesday, Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association (MDPPZA) secretary-general Cleto Masiya wrote a letter to the NPA about the issue. He said:
On many occasions, medical professionals have become reluctant to deal with courts as State witnesses because of the blatant delays they encounter at the hands of court officials.
Doctors are at times required to give oral evidence, unfortunately, they may be forced to warm the court benches for long hours while waiting to do so.
This is detrimental to their ethical duties of serving suffering patients in their respective clinics or hospitals taking cognisance of the gross understaffing in many healthcare facilities.
This is different from a scenario where medical practitioners are the accused persons.
In their response on Friday, the NPA apologised to the doctors through a letter that was signed by an A Kumire from the National Inspectorate, Training, Legal Reform, Research and Anti-corruption Unit. Kumire wrote:
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe sincerely apologises for the discourteous poor and insensitive treatment you were subjected to when you attended court at Harare Magistrates Courts (Rotten Row) as a witness and you were kept in attendance for six hours.
Our standard operating procedures for officers in the Magistrates Courts, High Court and Supreme Court provide that ‘the importance of witness in the criminal justice system can never be overemphasised.
Witnesses who come to testify in cases must be treated with all the courtesy and respect which they deserve.
Remedial action will be taken through our National Inspectorate, Training and Anti-corruption Unit.
We assure you that every measure will be taken to prevent a recurrence of this most disturbing episode.