By Albert Mpofu
Concerns raised about political interference and judges’ independence due to substantial housing loans
The decision by the Zimbabwean government to give judges large housing loans has caused a lot of disagreement and upset, with worries about potential political interference in the country’s legal system. The loans amount to a big total of US$400,000, and many people, including legal experts and ordinary citizens, see them as more like bribes than proper financial help. What’s especially concerning is that this happened just a few months before important elections, leading to suspicions of hidden motives.
Unlike other people who get loans, the judges didn’t have to sign any agreements, and this has made legal professionals even more worried. They believe that the terms for judges’ jobs should be decided by the constitution and should not be influenced by anyone outside the legal system. This lack of openness raises doubts about the independence of the judges and makes people lose trust in the legal system.
A lawyer who prefers to stay anonymous said they were worried about what might happen because of this decision. They said, “The fact that this is happening in an election year suggests it may be a bribe. It doesn’t matter if judges get more or less than what they’re entitled to, it still affects their independence. Any changes to their pay should be done openly and responsibly, not through loans that look like bribes.”
The timing of these housing loans is particularly troubling since Zimbabwe is getting ready for important elections. Experts who study politics believe there might be disagreements about the election results, and those disagreements could end up in the courts. This makes people even more concerned about whether judges who received these loans will be fair and impartial.
For a long time, people have been saying that the Zimbabwean legal system is influenced by the ruling Zanu PF party and its leader, President Emmerson Mnangagwa. There have been incidents in the past that make people doubt if the legal system is really fair, like when the Constitutional Court said Mnangagwa won the 2018 election even though some people thought there was cheating. Also, in 2021, the government quickly changed the rules to let Chief Justice Luke Malaba keep his job after some High Court judges said his time was up. These things have made people skeptical about whether judges can really be fair and independent.
Different people from different groups have shared their concerns and asked for something to be done. Stephen Chuma, who speaks for the CCC Youth Taskforce, said they were worried the housing loans might be meant to influence judges if there are arguments about the election results.
While Makomborero Haruzivishe, a human rights defender and activist, talked about how only a few people in Zimbabwe get a lot of money while regular people, like teachers and farmers, are struggling. Haruzivishe said that people should protest and vote for a government that is responsible and doesn’t let corruption happen
