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AG's office hit by critical staff shortage
Financial Gazette (Zimbabwe)
March 20, 2008

The Attorney General (AG)'s office faces a critical staff shortage and has 100 vacancies for the prosecutors to fill, a report by government's law office said this week.

The report explains the circumstances surrounding the postponement of a number of cases that include the murder case involving Jephias Mavangira, husband to High Court judge, Justice Susan Mavangira. "As earlier indicated in this report, there is a critical shortage of staff, which needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. "Right now there are 100 vacancies for law officers and prosecutors in the office," the report says. It adds that the deputy AG (Criminal Division), Johannes Tomana, is about to conclude a tour of all prosecuting stations nationwide to assess the scale of the crisis and see what improvements can be made to make the justice delivery system more efficient. The report also says the AG's office is considering incentives to enable it to retain staff.

The report also highlights the reason why a number of criminal cases set down for hearing the High Court between January 28 and February 25 could not begin. "In the matter of State vs Jephias Mavangira set for the 14th of January 2008, trial did not commence as the prosecutor who was assigned to deal with this matter recused himself at the last minute and there was not enough time to allocate the matter to another officer for the trial to commence. "This matter was postponed sine die. Witnesses were present," the report says. In January, The Financial Gazette reported that the complainant in the matter had lodged the matter with the presidency, accusing Tomana of having irregularly withdrawn the case. The report also shows that other criminal cases could not proceed as there was no fuel to bring accused persons to court or bus companies refusing to accept travel vouchers given to witnesses.

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