Online Reporter
Mkhululi Ncube, Zimpapers Reporter
THE National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) has bolstered its workforce by filling 25 key positions and equipping its staff with modern tools of trade and incentives to ensure high-quality public service delivery.
Prosecutor General, Justice Loyce Matanda-Moyo, made the remarks in Bulawayo, where the agency is hosting a strategic planning review workshop aimed at building momentum for enhanced operations under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) — the second phase of the national blueprint commencing next year, leading towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
She noted that under NDS1, the NPAZ had achieved several milestones, including the clearing of court case backlogs, which has significantly improved access to justice.
The 25 newly filled positions include the appointment of nine Chief Directors of Prosecutions, seven Directors overseeing various portfolios within the NPAZ, nine Deputy Directors and one Chief Director. Some of the appointments formalise roles previously held in an acting capacity for up to five years.
“We recognised from the outset that to deliver on our core outcome of an ‘Improved Rule of Law’, we needed to make a strategic investment in our most critical asset — our people. This required a fundamental re-engineering of our institution to strengthen both our prosecutorial and administrative corps.
“To this end, we have undertaken a deliberate, multi-year recruitment drive to fill vacancies and strategically expand our workforce in line with our newly approved organogram. This new structure is not merely a chart — it is a clear and predictable path for career advancement and professional growth, designed to attract and retain the best talent,” said Justice Matanda-Moyo.
She added that the NPAZ had also conducted a comprehensive job evaluation to ensure all staff members are now regularised and correctly graded. The agency has provided financial compensation to seven staff members who had not received promotions or salary adjustments for years, thereby resolving a longstanding grievance.
“Placing our staff in substantive posts and correct grades has not only provided well-deserved job security and fair remuneration but has also ignited a renewed sense of commitment and ownership, directly strengthening our institutional capacity to deliver on expected national outcomes.
“Promotions are now based solely on merit, and we have launched the NPAZ Merit Awards to formally celebrate excellence. Critically, our strategy to retain top talent and boost motivation extends beyond non-monetary incentives. To directly mitigate skills flight and improve welfare, we have secured 57 housing stands for prosecutors and are actively modernising offices from Zvishavane to Chinhoyi,” said the Prosecutor General.
Turning to success in the courts, Justice Matanda-Moyo said the agency had cleared a significant number of backlog cases.
“We have seen our quarterly clearance rate climb from 62.2 percent to an impressive 68.9 percent, culminating in a 74.2 percent clearance rate for the first three quarters of 2025. This is no accident. This achievement is the result of a disciplined, multi-pronged strategy.
“It is the direct outcome of our Enhanced Case Management System, a strict no-postponement policy, a dedicated focus on trial readiness, and investment in well-researched prosecutions delivered by a trained and rigorously supervised team. The effectiveness of this strategy is evident — we have reduced unnecessary State-initiated postponements by 35 percent,” she said.
Justice Matanda-Moyo also highlighted the success of the Specialised Backlog Elimination Taskforce, which has achieved a historic reduction in murder case backlogs in the High Court.
“In the Midlands Special High Court Circuit, we cleared 137 out of 150 outstanding cases, achieving a remarkable 98 percent conviction rate. With regard to Operational Excellence and Backlog Reduction, our offensive is yielding decisive results.
“Our overall conviction rate remains robust at 84 percent, and more importantly, the conviction rate for serious and complex crimes such as armed robbery, sexual offences, and high-value fraud has risen to 76 percent.
“This tells the nation that we are not merely processing cases — we are building strong, evidence-led prosecutions that hold the guilty accountable,” she said.
Justice Matanda-Moyo concluded by stating that the NPA must use these achievements as a launchpad for its next five-year journey under NDS2.—@themkhust
Bongani Ndlovu