Judicial Service Commission

MISSION

To uphold, develop and provide accessible, efficient and effective justice delivery.

MANDATE

To provide and ensure effective and efficient justice delivery.

CORE VALUES

Integrity

The JSC is fair, ethical and honest in our dealings with all our stakeholders. In doing so, we apply agreed policies equal to all, maintain the highest of personal, professional and ethical conduct.

Impartiality

The JSC exercises independence and objectivity in dealing with our stakeholders and clients.

Transparency and accountability

We disclose full information in time to relevant stakeholders, where applicable. We take full responsibility and are answerable for our decisions and actions.

Accessibility

The JSC endeavors to deliver justice to all using different methods and strategies.

Responsiveness

The JSC timely, efficiently and effectively attend to the justice needs of the people in line with our service charter.

Teamwork

The JSC strives to work together with loyalty and diligence.

Departments

THE POLICY LEGAL RESEARCH DEPARTMENT

• MISSION STATEMENT

To uphold, develop and provide accessible, efficient and effective justice delivery.

• FUNCTIONS:

To execute the constitutional and statutory functions of the Ministry in terms of all laws administered by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs

1. To carry out research for the purpose of formulating policy towards the enactment of new legislation or amending existing legislation
2. To coordinate human rights and humanitarian law activities (ZUNDAF, State party Reporting, Universal Periodic Review and JLOS)
3. To coordinate activities relating to Intellectual Property Rights (WIPO)
4. To coordinate activities arising from Regional and International obligations of the State (UN, EU, SADC, AU and COMESA)
5. To attend to queries and or complaints pertaining to the administration of justice.

The Functions of the Department fall under three main Units namely;

1. Human Rights
2. Intellectual Property Rights
3. General Legal

Human Rights

Execute all human rights-related functions of the Government of Zimbabwe by virtue of administration of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Hosts the Interministerial Committee on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (IMC). The IMC was created by Cabinet in 1993. One of its main functions is to prepare State Party Reports to be submitted to various Treaty Bodies in line with Treaty Reporting obligations. The IMC is also mandated to identify new international treaties and conventions to be recommended to the Government for signature and ratification. Moreover, the IMC is obliged to carry out awareness campaigns on matters concerning human rights. The Department coordinates the activities of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Steering Committee. The UPR is a unique process involving a periodic review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States once every four and a half years. It is a significant innovation of the United Nations Human Rights Council which is based on equal treatment for all countries. It provides an opportunity for all States to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to overcome challenges to the enjoyment of human rights. Zimbabwe was first reviewed under the UPR in 2011 and is due to present its next Report in November 2016.

Intellectual Property

1. Co-ordinates the Intellectual Property Rights Policy for the Nation
2. Reviews and Implements the Intellectual Property Rights Policy for Zimbabwe

General Legal

Executes statutory functions assigned to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary affairs. This involves functions such as the appointment of members to Boards and Councils that are established in terms of statutory provisions. It also includes the preparation of Statutory Instruments, Regulations and General Notices for publication in the Government Gazette.

CHILD RIGHTS DESK

• INTRODUCTION:

The Child Rights Desk was formulated through the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law with an aim to coordinate and compliment child rights component within the Ministry.

The Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (MoJLPA) has worked with a number of development partners with child orientated mandates such as UNICEF and Save the Children.

• FUNCTIONS OF THE DESK:

1. Coordinate child rights issues within the Ministry
2. Strengthen child rights framework for the realisation of children’s rights
3. Strengthen national systems and institutions for monitoring the international instruments Zimbabwe is party to
4. Facilitate and contribute to the State Party Reporting and monitoring of the implementation of UNCRC (together with its Optional Protocols) and the ACRWC

• GUIDING PRINCIPLES IN IMPLEMENTING CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

1. Non-Discrimination
2. Best Interest of the Child
3. Children's Right to Survival and Development

POLICY - Ease of Doing Business reforms in Zimbabwe

• Background

The Ease of Doing Business is an assessment of a country’s overall business environment based upon a set of indicators compiled by the World Bank Doing Business project. The Government of Zimbabwe in 2015, upon realising that the business climate in the country was not attractive to both local and foreign investors introduced the reforms. The reforms are being spearheaded by the Office of the President and Cabinet and are targeted at identifying and removing bottlenecks, improving on procedures, reducing turnaround time for document processing and reducing the costs were possible.

Under the Ease of Doing Business reforms, the role of the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs is to draft all legislation from relevant line Ministries, through the Drafting Division of the Attorney General’s Office, prepare Principles for submission to Cabinet as well as to submit and present Bills to Cabinet Committee on Legislation (CCL).

Pre-Trial Diversion

Pre-trial diversion came into existence in 2009 after the government of Zimbabwe accepted a proposal for the implementation of a pilot pre-trial diversion for children below the age 18 years. The Prosecutor General or his representative has the power in terms of Section 9 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (Chapter 9:07), to decline to prosecute any matter if they meet the following requirements.

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE

• MANDATE

To establish and maintain the mutual understanding between the ministry and its publics through the provision of information, generate interest and acceptance.

Objectives:

1. To educate and inform the citizenry on their rights and role of the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
2. To provide a platform for stakeholders in the Justice delivery system to share experiences, develop policies, research and expand networks.
3. To communicate constantly, effectively and efficiently on developments and activities in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
4. To provide platforms for media and the general public to influence pro-active policies.
5. To raise public awareness about the ministry and provide an input mechanism for feedback and monitoring.
6. To create, maintain and build up the image of the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and its various publics.

Law Commission Department

The LDC is an independent body set up by a government to conduct law reform; that is, to consider the state of laws and make recommendations or proposals for legal changes or restructuring.

CONSTITUTIONAL & PARLIAMENTARY DEPARTMENT

• VISION:

A constitutional and parliamentary democracy that ensures unity in diversity, accountability and good governance by the year 2016.

• MISSION STATEMENT:

To promote the constitution and to ensure the effective and efficient functioning of Parliament.