ATTORNEY-GENERAL (AG) Johannes Tomana has called for the formation of a prosecutors’ association headed by management of the five AG divisions in the country, barely four months after firing five prosecutors for leading a collective job action by State lawyers in 2011.
RICHARD MUPONDE SENIOR COURT REPORTER
The fired prosecutors are executive members of the Zimbabwe Law Officers’ Association (Ziloa), which is recognised by the Public Service Commission.
They are Dereck Charamba, Leopold Mudisi, Patrobs Dube, Mehluli Tshuma and Musekiwa Mbanje. They were first suspended in November 2011 over allegations of defiance, misconduct and inciting other employees to stage an illegal boycott.
Their prosecuting certificates were subsequently revoked by Tomana before dismissing them in April.
Ironically, Tomana has now called for the formation of a prosecutors’ association spearheaded by management of the five AG divisions in liaison with head office in Harare, raising the ire of the fired and serving prosecutors.
In a circular to all chief law officers, area public prosecutors and prosecutors in charge written by chief law officer Michael Mugabe at the behest of Tomana, the Prosecutors’ Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) should have been formed before July 31.
“. . . . The AG reiterated again and again the need to form an association to represent prosecutors not only in our country, but in international fora such as the African Prosecutors’ Association and the International Association of Prosecutors to name, but a few. The AG said it would be beneficial for the establishment of the PAZ which will be affiliated to these international organisations,” Mugabe’s circular read.
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“It is on this basis that I call us to put our heads together to come up with a plan leading to the formation of the PAZ.
“We should bear in mind that our office will be a stand-alone office to be known as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) headed by the prosecutor-general with effect from August 2013 after the elections. So it is important to have this association formed.”
Ziloa president Mudisi described the formation of Tomana’s association as a non-event labelling the body a toothless dog as it would not represent the interests of workers.
“Let them form it and those who want to join, join it,” Mudisi said.
“It doesn’t represent the interests of the employees. How can you air your grievances to someone who is also a member of the same association? I don’t think it will survive,” Mudisi said.
Ziloa secretary-general Charamba said the proposed PAZ was an extension of the administration and would not have any effect. “That’s an extension of the administration. We don’t care about it,” Charamba said.
A prosecutor who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were curious about the whole process since it was being mooted by management.
“One wonders whose interests a management-formed, funded and run association will serve,” he said.
Mugabe and Tomana could not be reached for comment as they were said to be out of office.
Tomana’s mobile phone was not reachable.
