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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
OVER 700 traditional chiefs from across the country will soon undergo basic training in law so as to strengthen the country’s justice delivery system, Chiefs Council President Chief Fortune Charumbira has said.

He said the programme comes courtesy of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Chief Charumbira said the training is meant to acquaint traditional chiefs with key judicial matters as they contribute to the justice delivery system through traditional courts that they preside over.

“There is a UNDP-funded programme to train 750 traditional leaders in basic law. They will undergo formal but basic training in law.

“The programme is in the pipeline and can start anytime soon depending on the readiness of the funders,” said Chief Charumbira.

He said more than 80 percent of cases were being heard before traditional courts.

Chief Charumbira said: “Training chiefs will help build their capacity to administer justice in a fair manner.

“It will also enhance justice delivery system since the conventional law has little or no room for bias when properly followed.

“The main objective of this training is for traditional leaders to interpret law correctly and improve their skills when trying cases.

“This will also strengthen the justice delivery system in Zimbabwe.”

He said manuals for the training programme will be translated in the local languages for easy comprehension.

He said chiefs will be awarded certificates of competence after undertaking the law course.

“Those eager to progress further with law studies will be accepted at various universities using the certificates they would have acquired,” said Chief Charumbira.