choice. The Legal Aid Act also provides for the Legal Aid
Programme envisaged under in terms of the Constitution38.
Administrative Measures
7.3. Further to the structure of the judiciary system as presented in the
previous report, the Constitution has also established the
Constitutional court, which deals with constitutional matters and
this enhances the right to be heard. Since 2013, the Government
of Zimbabwe has decentralised the Legal Aid facility to all the 10
provinces of the country39 and the decentralisation to district level
is still work in progress.
7.4. As noted in previous articles and in addition to the formal court
system, the establishment of the ZHRC, NPA, ZACC and other
Commissions has widened the domestic complaints mechanisms
thereby reinforcing the right to be heard.
7.5. A National Legal assistance for children Strategy has been
developed by Government with the support of developmental
partners. The strategy is aimed at supporting children who come
into contact with the law, for whatever reason, to receive legal
assistance that enables them to actively participate in the justice
process and to seek the most just and rights based outcome.
7.6. The Government also adopted the Victim Friendly Court system for
the protection of vulnerable witnesses and the system also caters
for children in conflict with the law.
Judicial Measures
7.7. The Constitutional Court had the occasion to reiterate the principle
of impartiality in the case of S v Konson40. In that case the apex
38
Section 31
39
Recommendation 29m
40
CC7/15
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