JSC considers ditching judiciary wigs
Nevanji Munyaradzi Chiondegwa
The Judicial Services Commission has invited public submissions on the longstanding issue of judiciary wigs.
For long, critics have called on the JSC to ditch the wigs which they say are colonial paraphernalia.
As a response to the calls to do away with the wigs, Chief Justice Luke Malaba has set up the Judiciary Wigs Committee.
In a statement released by the JSC this morning, the Commission said the wigs which are part of the judges` attire consists of ceremonial wigs and those worn during court proceeding further adding there has been much debate on the colonial vestiges worldwide.
The statement read, “There has been an ongoing heated debate worldwide on whether or not both types of judicial wigs, should be retained or removed as part of the official judicial attire and the transformation of the judiciary.
These calls have now gained considerable traction and are now echoed in the Zimbabwean Judiciary. The Honourable Judges of the Superior Courts debated the subject matter at the end of the First Term Symposium held in April 2022 in Masvingo.”
The statement continued saying, “It is on this basis that the Honourable Chief Justice. Mr. Luke Malaba constituted the Judicial Wigs Committee(JWC) to stir discussions and solicit the views and comments of all stakeholders in the justice delivery system and the public.
Thus as a way of promoting inclusivity and democratic governance. the Judicial Wigs Committee wishes to elicit public opinion as part of the concerted efforts to inform and direct public policy on this issue.”
The JSC called on anyone intending to contribute towards the debate on judicial wigs in the Zimbabwean judiciary to obtain consultation forms or questionnaires from the office of the Secretary, Judicial Service Commission House or via the JSC website where the forms can be downloaded.
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