Prosecutor General Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo, who oversees the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) and handled over 500 m_rder cases last year, expressed alarm over the high rate of the crime in her just tabled 2023 annual report in Parliament.
In addition to the PG’s worries, the police noticed a concerning rise in homicide cases brought on by extramarital affairs, spousal abus3, and disagreements over property division.
According to ZTN, while all homicides, except for accidents, are treated as m_rder during the investigation and remand stages, the lesser crime of culpable homicide is frequently substituted in the final trials or verdict because there was no actual or construed intent to k!ll, but the k!ller took action that a reasonable person would recognize could result in de@th or serious !njury. Justice Matanda-Moyo reported that the NPAZ handled 505 m_rder cases last year.
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“We managed to reduce the backlog of criminal cases. The NPAZ received 505 m_rder cases and managed to complete 359 cases. The clearance rate was 71,8 percent.
“It is worrisome that m_rder cases are on the increase and we add our voice to the call for increased High Courts across the whole country. Midlands Province is now ripe for a High Court seat.
The province is currently sitting on approximately 400 murder dockets that are ready for trial. A High Court Circuit for Gokwe will be most welcome,” she said.
The Prosecutor General stated that the National Prosecuting Authority handled 510 sudden de@th cases and attended 470, with 40 still pending.
Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the national police spokesperson, expressed concern yesterday about the rise in m_rder cases.
A significant number of cases occurred at beer drinking establishments, while other incidents involved minors aged seven to 17 years.
