HIGH Court judge Justice Benjamin Chikowero yesterday recused himself from presiding over a matter involving suspended judge Justice Erica Ndewere saying that he was conflicted.
Justice Ndewere recently filed an application challenging Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s order to have her investigated for alleged misconduct. She also challenged the move to have her investigated by a sitting judge. Justice Chikowero becomes the second judge to recuse himself from the matter after Justice Moses Foroma said he could not handle the matter involving a colleague.
In his ruling on Justice Ndewere’s application to have him recuse himself, Justice Chikowero said justice would not have been done if he insisted on dealing with the matter, moreso given the fact that the suspended judge was his senior and that they also worked together.
Justice Erica Ndewere’s troubles began when she granted bail to MDC Alliance Vice Chairperson, Job Sikhala, who is yet to stand trial for inciting public violence stemming from the aborted #31July protests that had been planned by the opposition to protest against the deteriorating economic situation.
Other people arrested on the same charges are Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhune.