Court in session! 27 candidates face off for Labour Court seats

The search for eight judges of the Labour Court is underway!

Today in Harare, 13 candidates are participating in public interviews, with a second group of 14 aspirants scheduled for tomorrow.

This selection process follows Section 180 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution.

Initially, the Judicial Service Commission received 53 nominations for these positions. After reviewing the submissions, six were deemed invalid and two were withdrawn.

On April 14, 2025, 45 candidates sat for the first-level examination, leading to 28 qualifying for the interviews.

However, one candidate later withdrew, resulting in 27 candidates participating in the public interviews.

Ten commissioners, including the Chief Justice, Judge President, and Chief Magistrate, are overseeing the proceedings.

Our Reporter Nyore Madzianike will provide live coverage of the interviews.

Stay tuned for updates!

UPDATE :

Interviews kick off

The first candidate to be interviewed was Mr Innocent Bepura, a regional magistrate.

He was questioned on how he would preserve his integrity following his previous misconduct over the use of a Judicial Service Commission (JSC) car while on suspension.

UPDATE :

Human rights lawyer in the race

Chipo Ruhwaya Bhebhe, a renowned human rights lawyer, was interviewed next.

She denied having any interest in football, despite being a member of the ZIFA Appeals Committee.

Ms Bhebhe said she was appointed to the position due to her skills and desire for an additional income source.

UPDATE :

Low performance highlighted in regional magistrate’s interview

Regional Magistrate Mrs Estere Chivasa is now being interviewed.

This is her second attempt, having previously failed to make the grade in the search for High Court judges.

Mrs Chivasa told the Commissioners that she believes she is now ripe for the position of Labour Court judge, considering her experience.

However, she was asked how she would cope with the demands of the Labour Court, given her low output of completing matters at Harare Magistrates Court.

Statistics show that her trial completion rate was five cases per month in 2024 and three per month in 2025.

In response, Mrs Chivasa denied being a low performer, stating that she deals with complex matters.

UPDATE :

Limited interaction with Labour Court revealed

Mr Ray Martin Gapara, legal advisor at the Rural Electrification Agency, is now being interviewed.

He said he has had “no meaningful” interaction with the Labour Court, and his only interactions were through reading its judgments and when he represented his company a long time ago.

Mr Gapara said he is only partially proficient with the Judicial Service Commission’s (JSC) Electronic Case Management System, and hopes to acquaint himself with it through on-the-job training.

He informed the Commissioners that his weakest point is that he considers himself a perfectionist, paying attention to every detail, which renders him slow in executing duties.

UPDATE :

Lawyer Tinevimbo Gatawa addresses past concerns amid Labour Court bid

Mr Tinevimbo Gatawa, a lawyer, is now being interviewed.

This is his second attempt, having previously failed to make the grade in last year’s search for High Court judges.

Mr Gatawa addressed a complaint from a member of the public, alleging that he had tampered with a board resolution.

He denied the allegation, stating that he checked on the status of the matter and found that there were no developments.

Mr Gatawa said if successful, his appointment would not affect his law firm’s operations, as one of his partners would take over and continue running it.

The lawyer has had 13 employers in his career. He has worked in the public sector, holding positions at the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) as a magistrate, the Ministry of Justice, Bindura University, the Public Service, and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

Notably, Mr Gatawa left these positions without providing notice and was involved in litigation against his former employers.

UPDATE :

Public Prosecutor calls for judicial integrity

Public Prosecutor Mr Thompson Hove is now being interviewed.

He stated that a judge must exhibit conduct that shows propriety and must also uphold the Constitution.

Mr Thompson said he has interacted with the Labour Court through various judgments that he has come across, including the landmark Zuva Petroleum judgment.

UPDATE :

Second day kicks off

The Labour Court judges’ interviews continued this morning, with Dr Joseph Masango, a legal practitioner, being interviewed.

He admitted to getting no marks in examinations that test IECMS use proficiency but said he later participated in JSC workshops and received training.

Dr Masango said he had not used the IECMS since he had no matters at the higher courts. He, however, said he was now confident that he can now use it.

He said most of his cases were at the Magistrates’ Courts, while some of his cases were resolved through negotiations.

UPDATE :

Labour relations arbitrator highlights experience and impartiality

Mr Johnlife Tungamirai Mawire, a labour relations advisor/arbitrator, said he has interacted with many labour organisations.

Mr Mawire said interactions with these organisations have enriched his experience.

He said he has previously maintained impartiality despite having worked with many legal practitioners as an arbitrator, adding that he will recuse himself from matters he is seized with at his workplace.

He also said he has trained many arbitrators and has handled arbitration cases since 1994.

UPDATE :

Labour relations arbitrator highlights experience and impartiality

Mr Johnlife Tungamirai Mawire, a labour relations advisor/arbitrator, said he has interacted with many labour organisations.

Mr Mawire said interactions with these organisations have enriched his experience.

He also said he has trained many arbitrators and has handled arbitration cases since 1994.

UPDATE :

Low case clearance rate brought up

Harare Regional Magistrate, Mrs Sandra Mupindu, takes the seat for the interviews.

She starts by responding to three compulsory questions posed by Chief Justice Luke Malaba.

The panel asked whether she is aware of concerns over her low case clearance rate in the first quarter of this year.

Mrs Sibanda completed 50 cases in 2024, and this year she has completed 16 cases so far.

She said a public prosecutor in her court was on study leave in April this year, hence the low rate.

Se said she is also doubling as a Bindura Regional Magistrate.

Mrs Mupindu said she completes her cases on time, adding that if there were any concerns over her perfomance, her immediate bosses would have told her

UPDATE :

Lawyer convicted of misconduct

Mr Ignatius Murambasvina, a legal practitioner, is now responding to the three compulsory questions imposed by Chief Justice Luke Malaba.

He admitted to having been convicted by the Law Society of Zimbabwe for misconduct as a lawyer.

The sentence is still pending.

He also acknowledged that there is another pending matter, which is still under investigation by the LSZ.

UPDATE :

Lawyer and former GMB legal advisor eyes Labour Court bench

Interviews resumed with Mr Rodin Mzyece taking the hot seat.

He said he is confident that his experience is enough to make him a judge at the Labour Court.

He stated that he has handled many labour cases.

Mr Mzyece revealed that he handled one matter in the Labour Court.

He emphasised that his maturity, wisdom, and experience will make him an asset at the Labour Court.

UPDATE :

Ndirowei vows to improve Labour Court efficiency

Harare Regional Magistrate, who was the Registrar of the Labour Court for two years, Mr Donald Ndirowei, is now being interviewed.

He said the experience he gained during that period is invaluable, as he was involved in the day-to-day running of the Labour Court’s administration and litigation.