Human Rights Lawyers Question Prosecutor General's Independence

  • Jonga Kandemiiri

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has filed an urgent application seeking to intervene in proceedings before the constitutional court instituted by prosecutor-general Johannes Tomana on his constitutional independence.

The prosecutor-general last week filed an application before the constitutional court in which he wants the court to declare that when he refuses to issue a certificate for private prosecution, the matter is within prosecutorial discretion and therefore not subject to review by any court of law.

The prosecutor-general is also seeking to bar the courts from interfering with his powers to decline prosecution.

The ZLHR says Tomana’s application has a major impact on the protection of human rights and freedoms guaranteed in the constitution.