The Zimbabwean writer and lawyer, Pettina Gappah has commented to the Chief Justice Malaba situation. She pointed out to the mistakes made in this move and the mindset it reveals.
The Chief Justice Malaba saga that has caused havoc is the one relating to his tenure extension. We covered the issue in detail here stating how the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill (no2) had enabled President Mnangagwa to extend Malaba’s term just 5 hours before he was due to retire.
This seeming victory was short lived as a result of an urgent chamber application which was against the tenure extension. You can read about it here.
Pettina Gappah took to her twitter expressing the following:
“Behind CJ Malaba’s debacle is narrowness of vision. There is a huge legal world outside Zimbabwe. Malaba could have done what many retired judges do, interesting arbitration work, ad hoc tribunals etc. But he’d much rather be a big – and illegal – fish in a very small pond!”
Gappah has previously written for international outlets such as The Financial Times, The New York Times and The Guardian.
Behind CJ Malaba’s debacle is narrowness of vision. There is a huge legal world outside Zimbabwe. Malaba could have done what many retired judges do, interesting arbitration work, ad hoc tribunals etc.
But he’d much rather be a big – and illegal – fish in a very small pond!
— Petina Gappah (@VascoDaGappah) May 17, 2021
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