35 Zim prosecutors quit

HARARE – More than 35 prosecutors have quit the attorney general’s office in Zimbabwe this year, leaving the Justice Ministry facing a serious staff squeeze, said reports yesterday.

The ministry’s acting secretary Maxwell Ranga said: “Since the start of the year, we have lost about 35 prosecutors countrywide. They have resigned.”Most of them cited conditions of service as the reason for seeking greener pastures.Civil servants had borne the brunt of Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown.Although President Robert Mugabe’s government had implemented pay hikes with money specially printed for the purpose, critics said salaries just hadn’t been able to keep up with raging inflation.The authorities stopped issuing inflation figures three months ago.Analysts said the annual rate could now have reached a staggering 13 000%, with grim forecasts of worse things to come.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the rate could top 100 000 per cent by December.So serious are the staff shortages at the attorney general’s office that the ministry is now trying to recruit students who will graduate next year from the University of Zimbabwe’s Law School.Ranga said: “Interviews have already been conducted.Once we get transcripts for the successful candidates, we will notify them.The majority of them will be deployed to the magistrates courts, which are hard hit.”Earlier this year, Zimbabwe’s Judge President Rita Makarau warned that the judiciary system was in a shambles due mainly to poor funding.The judge said: “Judging from the paltry funds that are allocated, it is my view that the place and role of the judiciary in this country is under- appreciated.”Sapa-dpaintThey have resigned.”Most of them cited conditions of service as the reason for seeking greener pastures.Civil servants had borne the brunt of Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown.Although President Robert Mugabe’s government had implemented pay hikes with money specially printed for the purpose, critics said salaries just hadn’t been able to keep up with raging inflation.The authorities stopped issuing inflation figures three months ago.Analysts said the annual rate could now have reached a staggering 13 000%, with grim forecasts of worse things to come.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the rate could top 100 000 per cent by December.So serious are the staff shortages at the attorney general’s office that the ministry is now trying to recruit students who will graduate next year from the University of Zimbabwe’s Law School.Ranga said: “Interviews have already been conducted.Once we get transcripts for the successful candidates, we will notify them.The majority of them will be deployed to the magistrates courts, which are hard hit.”Earlier this year, Zimbabwe’s Judge President Rita Makarau warned that the judiciary system was in a shambles due mainly to poor funding.The judge said: “Judging from the paltry funds that are allocated, it is my view that the place and role of the judiciary in this country is under- appreciated.”Sapa-dpaint