Supreme Court Judge Justice Bere’s Misconduct Hearing To Start Today
Justice Bere who is supposed to answer to the charges of misconduct after a Harare lawyer accused him of interfering in a civil case, will appear before a three-member tribunal led by retired Justice Simbi Mubako today, The Herald reports.
Justice Bere attempted to stop the hearing and yesterday the High Court ruled that his attempt to delay the hearing was not an urgent matter.
Justice Bere who has denied the accusations levelled against him according to the publication:
Is accused of meddling in a civil case involving the Zimbabwe National Road Administration and his relatives. Justice Bere allegedly telephoned Mr Ndudzo, who was representing Zinara, asking him to consider settling a civil dispute pitting Zinara and Fremus Enterprises.
Complaints against him were raised before Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza during a court hearing and Mr Ndudzo was asked to make the complaint in writing.
Justice Bere denied the allegations. In a response to the JSC, the judge, said he only contacted Mr Ndudzo in the context of their personal relationship dating back to the days when they were both members of the Zimbabwe Football Association Ethics Committee. He described the complaint as a falsehood meant to taint his clean record.
Since his suspension, Justice Bere has made 3 applications, seeking as a matter of urgency an order staying the inquiry into his alleged misconduct. The tribunal to probe the judge’s misconduct will also have Harare lawyer Mrs Rekayi Maphosa and Advocate Takawira Nzombe apart from retired judge Simbi Mubako.
More: The Herald