Justice Rita Makarau is reportedly close to losing her position as Secretary of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC). This comes a few weeks after Makarau resigned as the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). In both cases, sources close to the matter say that Makarau is not popular with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration as she is considered to have been very close to former president Emmerson Mnangagwa. A senior official who spoke to the Independent said:
There is a push to have Justice Makarau relieved of her duties as JSC secretary. The appointment was administrative, it was not constitutional, so it is possible that she can be elbowed out. However, she cannot be easily removed from her job as a Supreme Court judge. That is a constitutional appointment.
Makarau’s position is important because it deals with the administrative issues of the country’s judicial system. Issues to do with salaries and the administration side of court cases.
Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi said that Makarau was only appointed in an acting capacity. Said Ziyambi:
I think the best person to talk to is the Chief Justice. As the ministry, we are only advisors and we do not interfere with the JSC’s work. What to note, though, is that Justice Makarau has been acting JSC secretary since 2013. She was not appointed secretary
More: The Independent