Zwnews Chief Correspondent
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)’s chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba violated the Constitution, if the alleged love affair she is said to be involved with, with a cabinet minister, is anything to go by.
According the sensational claims made by former Herald editor, Edmund Kudzayi, Chigumba is involved in a love affair with Minister Winston Chitando, a move that is in direct conflict with the requirements of the public office she holds.
Kudzayi who at one time was suspected to be Baba Jukwa, a Facebook character who leaked ZANU PF secrets, claims to have all the evidence that could nail Chigumba, and challenges her to deny it, if she is innocent.
The claims get people talking, with some saying it was unfair to link her conduct in private with her office.
The affair if proven to be true means Chigumba’s holding of public office and ability to act independently as required by the law is compromised.
Commenting on the matter, renowned lawyer, Alex Magaisa says there is no private life to talk of in issues to do with public officers.
He says according to the conduct of public officers provided in the Constitution there is no distinction between public or private life, when it comes to conflict of interest.
Section 196 (2) of the Constitution requires public officers to avoid conduct that leads to conflict of interest between their personal affairs and their public duties. Meaning what a public officer does in private life must not lead to conflicts with or demean his or her office.
He says therefore, there is no defence in a public officer saying whatever happened, happened in private life, because the so-called private life when it comes to public officers is therefore not private. The law expects public officers to uphold high moral standards always, whether in private or public.
