ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S OFFICE

MISSION STATEMENT

To ensure the provision of sound legal services to the State, in an efficient and professional manner, and to secure the proper and effective functioning of the criminal justice system.

STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION

The Office of the Attorney-General is a Constitutional Office set up under section 76 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. The Office which is headed by the Attorney-General who is assisted by a Deputy Attorney General is wholly serviced by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. The Office has four divisions namely:- Legal Advice; Legal Drafting; Civil Division and Criminal Division (Public Prosecutions).

Division of Legal Advice

The Division undertakes to:-

* Acknowledge receipt of all correspondence within four days of receipt, except in cases where no acknowledgment is called for;

* Provide sound and practical legal advice within a period not exceeding four weeks, unless the nature of the subject in question dictates otherwise;

* Ensure that legal documents are properly drafted and finalised within a period not exceeding four weeks, unless the complexity of the document or its negotiation necessitates otherwise;

* Ensure that court cases and inquiries are smoothly and expeditiously concluded, having regard to the nature of the proceedings in question and the interests of all the parties involved;

* Meet deadlines where applicable;

* React quickly and effectively whenever the services of the Division are required.

Procedure for Lodging Queries or Complaints

Any queries or complaints relating to the execution of the Division's duties should be made in writing to the Director of Legal Advice. The Director undertakes to respond within two weeks of receipt of a query or complaint. If the query or complaint cannot be adequately dealt with by the Director, then it should be referred to the Attorney-General.

Address: The Director of Legal Advice P. Bag 7714, Causeway. Telephone: 774586/7

Attorney-General

P. Bag 7714, Causeway

Telephone: 774586/7

Suggestions for improvement may be put in suggestion boxes.

8.2 Division of Legal Drafting

The Division undertakes to:-

* Draft or examine legislation in the shortest time possible consonant with the complexity of the legislation and the nature of the instructions from the client Ministry;

* Ensure that all bills, statutory instruments and notices drafted by the Division are clear, are constitutional and, in the case of statutory instruments and notices, are validly made in terms of the enabling enactment;

* Ensure that all statutory instruments and notices examined by the Division for publication in the Gazette are constitutional and validly made in terms of their enabling enactment;

* Acknowledge receipt of all correspondence within four days after it is received by the Division, except in cases where clearly no acknowledgement is called for;

* Exercise all reasonable care to ensure that any advice given by the Division reflects the current state of the law;

* Treat all those who seek the Division's services with the courtesy and respect they deserve;

* Provide an efficient service in accordance with the highest professional standards.

Procedure for Lodging Queries or Complaints

Any queries or complaints relating to the execution of the Division's duties should be made in writing to the Director of Legal Drafting. The Director undertakes to respond within two weeks of receipt of a query or letter of complaint. If the query or complaint cannot be dealt with adequately by the Director, then it should be referred to the Attorney-General.

Address: The Director of Legal Drafting P. Bag 7714 Casueway. Telephone: 774586/7

The Attorney-General P.Bag7714 Causeway Telephone: 774586/7

Suggestions for improvement may be left in suggestion boxes.

CIVIL DIVISION

The Division undertakes to:-

* Ensure that court cases are efficiently and expeditiously concluded;

* Respond to all correspondence within five working days;

* Give legal opinions on contracts and loan agreements within two weeks;

* Recover money owing to Government expeditiously;

* Attend to transfer of properties on behalf of the Government within four weeks;

* Meet deadlines where relevant;

* Treat every person who seeks our services with respect and courtesy at all times.

Procedure for Lodging Queries or Complaints

Any queries or complaints relating to the execution of the Division's duties should be made in writing to the Director of Civil Division. The Director undertakes to respond within two weeks of receipt of a query or complaint. If the query or complaint cannot be adequately dealt with by the Director, then it should be referred to the Attorney-General.

Address: The Director of Civil Division P. Bag CY 880

Causeway Telephone: 774595/7

The Attorney-General P. Bag 714 Causeway Telephone: 774587/92

Suggestions for improvement may be put in the suggestion boxes.

8.4 Criminal Division (Public Prosecutions)

The Division undertakes to:-

* Institute and process criminal proceedings expeditiously.

* Act as legal representatives of the State in all criminal proceedings i.e. at bail, trial and appeal stages.

* Advise and give opinions to members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police in relation to criminal matters.

* Assist the High Court in review matters.

* Advise all Government departments on matters of Criminal Law.

Pre-Trial and Trial Stages

* Place accused persons on remand in or out of custody on bail when the trial is not ready.

* Advise the accused person to apply to the High Court when bail for remand out of custody is denied.

* Attend to all bail applications within 48 hours of receipt of the application.

* Ensure that an accused on remand for minor offences is tried within eight months.

* Ensure that an accused on remand for more complex offences is tried within 18 months.

Procedure for Lodging Queries or Complaints

Queries or complaints relating to criminal matters should be referred to the Area Prosecutor or Prosecutor-in-Charge in the first instance.

Where there is no satisfaction in the above procedure, complaints should be referred to the Senior Public Prosecutor.

Senior Public Prosecutors are based in Harare, Gweru and Bulawayo.

If there is still no satisfaction from the Senior Public Prosecutor, complaints should be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Response to queries should be received within three weeks.

Final complaints can be raised with the Attorney-General or his Deputy at the same box number as below.

Address: The Director of Public Prosecutions P. Bag 7714 Causeway Harare Telephone: 774586/7