NPA crafts handbook for prosecutors working on corruption cases
Tateguru Tv Writer
Chief Law Officer in the National Prosecuting Authority, Mr Michael Reza says the fight against corruption is being impeded by acts of trickery by accused people and their lawyers.
Speaking on a panel addressing corruption in Zimpapers Television Network`s The Mint, Mr Reza said criminals are corrupting witnesses.
This, he said is complicating prosecution processes and is delaying the conclusion of corruption cases in the country.
“I must say, the dockets we have been getting from the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe Anticorruption Commission have been of good quality. What has been delaying corruption cases is that criminals have adopted new methods of delaying the commencement of trials. And my team is looking into that,” Mr Reza said.
He said besides the corrupting and intimidation of witnesses by accused persons, lawyers representing those implicated by corruption are delaying processes through applications.
Mr Reza said they have formulated a solution to the approach by lawyers, where they appear to be abusing the right to appeal.
“We have designed something to counter that, we are going to effect with immediate effect. We have noticed that cases are not moving because of applications by defense counsels and we have been losing a lot of time.
I have set up a team to construct a book with all the case laws that are needed as far as applications are concerned. So that if an appeal or application is made, our prosecutors can respond immediately,” said Mr Reza.
He said the handbook will be like killing two birds with one stone and recovering the stone.
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