SERIAL litigant Ignatius Masamba, who was on several
occasions slapped with orders for perpetual silence at the High Court, will now
undergo psychiatric examination to ascertain his mental status.
A number of High Court judgments were issued barring
Masamba from suing anyone in relation to several specific court disputes, but
this time he annoyed the court after bringing up fresh vexatious suits.
Masamba, who over-exercises his right to sue, has over the
past five years bombarded the High Court with 49 cases and the Constitutional
Court with 13 cases, the bulk of which were viewed as frivolous and vexatious.
At the Magistrates’ Court, Masamba also filed a number of
civil cases. When he visits any public offices, the officers who attend
to him risk being served with summons any time.
Judges have complained of Masamba’s disdain and disregard
of court orders.
The hyper-litigious Masamba has picked fights with the
Harare City Council, Zimbabwe School Examination Council, former president
Robert Mugabe, Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Zimbabwe
Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company, the Judicial Service
Commission and many others.
In one of the cases, High Court judge, Justice Joseph
Mafusire ordered him to voluntarily be examined for mental health issues, but
he did not comply.
In the latest case, Justice Felistus Chatukuta ordered that
he be compulsorily examined by two different psychiatrists.
If Masamba does not go on his own, he will be forcibly
taken to the psychiatrist in terms of the court order.
“The applicant be and is hereby ordered to subject himself
to an examination by two psychiatrists from Government institutions within 14
days of the issuance of this order. The two psychiatrists shall inquire into
and report on his mental state.
“In the event that the applicant fails to comply with
paragraph 2 of this order, the registrar be and is hereby directed to issue a
writ for personal attachment and the Sheriff be and is directed to execute this
order,” ruled Justice Chatukuta.
In addition to the already operational perpetual silence
orders, the court directed the registrar not to accept any processes by Masamba
in the absence of the psychiatric reports. Herald
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