The High Court of Zimbabwe has dismissed an urgent chamber application by Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum executive director Musa Kika, seeking to have Chief Justice Luke Malaba jailed for contempt of court.

In his application Kika argued that Chief Justice Luke Malaba alleged defied an order which blocked extension of his term of office by reporting for work.

Kika wanted the High Court to impose a $1 million Zimbabwe Dollars fine on Malaba or sentence him to six months in prison.

Two judges Justices — Amy Tsanga and Slyvia Chirawu-Mugomba— heard the matter after Justice Webster Chinamora recused himself from the original three-judge bench citing professional reasons.

“The application for civil imprisonment for the first respondent (Malaba) contempt of court is dismissed,” read the operative part of the judgment by Justice Amy Tsanga.