Chief Justice Luke Malaba is this morning expected to preside over the official opening of the 2025 legal year, with Bulawayo hosting the main event for the first time.
This is in line with the devolution of all Government services.
Proceedings have commenced and our Bulawayo team is on the ground to give you live updates of the event.
The event started with the arrival of Chief Justice Malaba who is expected to give direction for the 2025 legal year while reflecting on the country’s justice system operations over the past year.
Judges, lawyers, and service chiefs are among those following proceedings.
Chief Justice inspects quarter guard
The proceedings have become a spectacle for Bulawayo residents as Chief Justice Malaba inspected the quarter guard.
Courts urged to operate in fair and transparent manner
Chief Justice Luke Malaba has delivered his keynote address for the official opening of the 2025 legal year.
He said this is a historic moment for Bulawayo as the city hosts the main event.
This year’s legal year will run under the theme ‘Building public confidence in the judiciary through stakeholder participation’.
Justice Malaba said the courts cannot deliver justice without collaboration with other stakeholders.
“The judiciary will work with other stakeholders to ensure that justice is served,” he said.
Chief Justice Malaba said the Judiciary Service Commission should put in place policies and measures to ensure that the courts are independent in making their decisions and accountable for the decisions.
He said the judiciary should operate fairly and transparently to gain public trust.
Improvements within sector noted
Chief Justice Malaba said the establishment of the Judicial Training Institute of Zimbabwe created a platform for well-coordinated training for all judicial and non-judicial members within the sector.
He said this has vastly improved the justice delivery system, with significant efforts made to deliver justice to people’s doorsteps.
The Judicial Service Commission has also taken a firm stance against corruption and judiciary misconduct.
As a result of the efforts, no misconduct charge was levelled against any judge over the past year.
Electronic management system to be launched at Magistrate Courts
The JSC will launch the Integrated Electronic Case Management System in the Magistrate Courts this January, with Matabeleland North and Mashonaland Central Provinces piloting the project.
Initially, the IECMS was only operational in the High Court.
It will be rolled out on province-to-province basis.
Role of traditional leaders clarified
Traditional chiefs should be guided by the country’s Constitution as they preside over customary law functions, Chief Justice Malaba has said.
He said the chiefs play a key role in solving community conflicts.
“The customary courts must not violate the rights of litigants. The Judicial Service Commission will conduct training for chiefs in the management of customary law courts.
“Litigants in customary law courts should be treated with dignity and must not be insulted,” he said.
Chief Justice congratulates ZRP’s Commissioner General Mutamba
Chief Justice congratulates ZRP’s Commissioner General Mutamba, outlines changes made at courts
Chief Justice Malaba congratulated the Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner General Stephen Mutamba on his recent appointment.
He said regional countries such as Namibia have visited Zimbabwe to learn about the integration of ICTs in justice delivery.
The Chief Justice said Harare has been divided into two administrative courts due to the high number of cases being handled.
It now has Harare North and Harare South Magistrate Courts. This is expected to improve the justice delivery system.
Mbare Magistrate Court was handling more cases than some provinces.
A new magistrate court will be constructed in Brunaberg in Matabeleland South.
Gwanda Court Complex and Cowdray Park Court Complex are scheduled to be completed this year.
Bulawayo High Court has had a turnaround as it was previously dogged by poor turnaround of cases.
