Online Reporter
Mashudu Netsianda and Danisa Masuku
Sixty-six murder cases are set to be heard at the Bulawayo High Court during the first term of 2026, highlighting the scale of serious criminal matters before the courts following the official opening of the legal year on Monday.
Officially opening the 2026 legal year, Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza said Bulawayo courts handled 41 120 criminal and civil matters in 2025, finalising 37 939 cases and leaving 3,181 outstanding. She said the figures reflected improved efficiency as the Judiciary intensifies efforts to clear case backlogs.
The High Court criminal division recorded one of its strongest performances, finalising 5 911 of 6 088 cases, while 4 598 of 4 665 criminal reviews were completed.
According to the criminal cause list for the first term of 2026, High Court judges in Bulawayo will preside over 66 murder trials, with more than 200 State witnesses expected to testify.
Among the high-profile matters is the long-awaited trial of Happiness Chimbangu (34) of Cowdray Park suburb, who allegedly stabbed her husband and two young children to death in a case that shocked Bulawayo. Chimbangu is accused of murdering her husband, Edwin Chimbangu (35), and their children — Promise (4) and seven-month-old Prudence.
Her trial was initially set to begin in December last year, but the prosecution successfully applied for her to undergo psychiatric examination. The presiding judge ordered that she be assessed by two State doctors.
The High Court is also expected to hear the case of a 36-year-old Chinese national, Yang Zhian, who allegedly shot and killed 31-year-old artisanal miner Pardon Gumbo in March last year following a confrontation over illegal gold prospecting in Gwanda.
Another matter lined up for hearing involves Episode Mbedzi (34) of Siyoka area in Beitbridge, who allegedly stormed his 80-year-old aunt’s house in March 2022 and fatally struck her with a three-legged pot after accusing her of witchcraft.
The court will further hear the case of Tinashe Machaka of Trenance, Bulawayo, who allegedly stabbed his neighbour, Peter Wilson Asher, several times with an okapi knife following a dispute over the illegal dumping of nappies.
Also set for trial is the infamous 2018 Plumtree gold heist, in which 28kg of gold valued at about US$970 000 was stolen from the Plumtree Police Station armoury. The case, which attracted national attention, initially involved nine suspects, including a senior magistrate, a prosecutor, a lawyer and senior police officers.
According to court papers, the gold was stolen on 7 July 2018, but the theft was only discovered a week later when a senior officer noticed that firearms booked in the charge office were missing from the armoury.
Police later intercepted part of the gold, leading to the arrest of Jefat Chaganda, who was found in possession of 14kg of the stolen gold while attempting to smuggle it into Botswana aboard a train. His accomplice, Dingumuzi Ncube, escaped.
It is alleged that the accused later hatched a scheme to fraudulently reclaim the seized gold through forged court documents. However, lawyer Admire Rubaya and regional magistrate Timeon Tavengwa Makunde, who had initially been implicated, were later cleared by the Supreme Court. The remaining suspects, Ginger Vhiyano, Chaganda, Tyson Ruvando and Ncube, are expected to appear in court on 26 January.
Deputy Prosecutor-General for the Southern Region, Mrs Tariro Rosa Takuva, said the 66 murder cases involve about 150 accused persons from Bulawayo and Matabeleland South.
“For this term, we will be dealing with 66 murder cases involving 150 people. Most of these are continuation trials from last year and are expected to be completed this term,” she said.
Mrs Takuva noted that alcohol abuse remains a major driver of violent crime.
“Most of the perpetrators would have consumed excessive alcohol, with incidents often occurring at nightclubs or drinking spots. We urge members of the public to drink responsibly and avoid violence,” she said.
