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influence operations of the judiciary through conducting seminars and workshops for the bench.
Some embassies and NGOs are also trying to unprocedurally fund the Zimbabwe Media Commission, it has been learnt.
Foreign governments through NGOs upped their efforts in trying to influence the operations of constitutional commissions through direct funding.

The Herald is reliably informed that there are some NGOs and embassies that want to directly fund the commissions.
Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa wrote recently to the acting secretary for the Judiciary Services Commission, Justice Rita Makarau, complaining about NGOs’ involvement in the judiciary services.

“I refer to my discussion with you on 23rd December, 2010 concerning the mounting evidence of assault on the independence of the judiciary by members of various foreign funded non-governmental organisations in particular, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and ZimRights under the guise of sponsoring, funding and conducting seminars and workshops for magistrates, prosecutors and High Court judges.

“I take exception to allowing NGOs to have direct contact and association with members of the judiciary and prosecutors with a view to influencing their conduct as judicial officers,” Minister Chinamasa said.
He said independence of the judiciary did not mean that it should render itself dependent for resources, advice and influence on foreign funded NGOs.
“I am sure you are aware that ZLHR and ZimRights are funded by governments, which imposed sanctions against this country and have as a cornerstone of their foreign policy towards Zimbabwe, an agenda to effect illegal regime change.

“Any association or direct contact between members of the judiciary and these foreign funded NGOs is unacceptable to my Ministry and Government as a whole, for the obvious reason that all their actions and activities are intended to undermine the independence of the judiciary,” he said.
Minister Chinamasa said it was the responsibility of the Judiciary Services Commission to uphold its independence.

“What has been happening under our very noses does not give credit to the judiciary.
“Stories abound that members of the judiciary at these seminars and workshops are liberally given monetary emoluments and inducements,” Minister Chinamasa said.

He added that any assistance by foreign governments or foreign NGOs towards the Judiciary Services Commission should be channelled through his ministry.
Said Minister Chinamasa: “I expect, therefore that any future seminars and workshops conducted in the manner that I have mentioned above would be stopped forthwith.”

A senior Government official who spoke on condition of anonymity yesterday blasted foreign governments and NGOs for their double standards when it comes to the welfare of judges.
“The same NGOs who are sponsoring these workshops are the ones who were at the forefront of attacking Central Bank Governor Gideon Gono when he provided the judges with televisions. They said he was trying to influence the judiciary.
“To them, it is fine if they influence judiciary operations but if it is done through Government entities they want it to appear as if it’s a crime,” said the source.

High Court judges recently boycotted lectures they viewed to be dubious, which were organised by the Law Society of Zimbabwe on the rule of law.
The lectures were to be conducted by a delegation from the International Bar Association.
Sources said the judges refused to engage the five-member IBA delegation after it emerged that the Judicial Services Commission and the parent Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs had not been notified of the planned meetings.

Media, Information and Publicity permanent secretary, Mr George Charamba, yesterday said there were embassies and an NGO, which wanted to bypass Government in funding the Zimbabwe Media Commission.
“There were at least three embassies and one NGO that tried to release resources to the ZMC outside Government involvement.
“However, Minister (of Media, Information and Publicity) Webster Shamu told them that if they wanted to give ZMC resources, they should do it through the Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity or through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“They were told that any form of funding would have to be made public but they have not come back to us since then,” Mr Charamba said.