PLUNDER: Zimbabwe splurges Millions on Wigs

Image result for Zimbabwe judge wigs

A rather confusing decision by the government of Zimbabwe has stirred mixed reactions on social media.

According to the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper, the country’s Judiciary Service Commission placed an order for 64 horse-hair wigs from Stanley Ley Legal Outfitters in London, at a cost of $2,428 (Ksh.244,542) each and totalling $155,000 (Ksh.15million).

Image result for Zimbabwe judge wigs

Lawyers and rights campaigners have expressed anger at the purchase, arguing that the tradition of wearing expensive wigs represents a mismanagement of financial resources, and also fails to improve access to legal services for average Zimbabweans.

Mr Ginsburg told CNN, however, that traditional legal dress allows lawyers to garner respect in court.

“In law, uniform is important — you look up to your judges and barristers,” he said. “What is wrong with tradition?”

Wigs are still worn in countries such as Malawi, Ghana, Zambia, and in the Caribbean, while South Africa and many Australian courts have abandoned the practice.

Hopewell Chin’ono, a leading Zimbabwean journalist and documentary filmmaker alternatively wrote: “I have argued that this country suffers from a catastrophic mismanagement of resources.

“How do you explain a government allocating $155,000 (Ksh.15million) for wigs to be bought in England when the same government is failing to buy bandages and betadine for infants in pediatric wards?”

Similar sentiments were echoed on Twitter:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *