Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau
A TEAM of five High Court judges, working with several prosecutors, has cleared an astonishing backlog of 413 murder cases in the Midlands Province, some of which had been pending since 1996.
The milestone follows the establishment of a special Midlands High Court Circuit running from the third term of 2024 to the third term of 2025. The intervention was prompted by a sharp rise in murder cases on the court roll and the growing pressure on the justice system.
The special circuit, which sat in Gweru and Gokwe, has brought long-delayed closure to families who had waited years — in some cases decades — for justice.
Prosecutor-General Justice Loyce Matanda-Moyo said the clearance demonstrates the dedication and determination of both the judiciary and prosecution teams.
She said three judges sat for the Gweru Circuit, completing 86 cases in the third term of 2024, 90 cases in the first term of 2025, 40 cases in the second term of 2025 and 30 cases in the third term of 2025. This brought Gweru’s total to 246 completed cases. Overall, 413 murder cases were finalised under the special circuit.
Justice Matanda-Moyo said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), introduced the special circuit to tackle a backlog that had exceeded 500 murder cases in the province.
“This strategic intervention responded to the persistent imbalance between the rate at which murder cases are committed and the pace at which they are processed through the general circuit court,” she said.
She revealed that most murder cases in the province are linked to artisanal gold miners, who often resort to violence to settle disputes.
“Most of the murder cases are committed by artisanal miners who resort to violence to solve their differences,” said Justice Matanda Moyo.
She also outlined NPA’s achievements under NDS1 (2021–2025), including a 74,2 percent case clearance rate, a 35 percent reduction in State-initiated postponements, regularisation of acting appointments, job evaluations and compensation for delayed promotions and improved staff welfare, including 57 housing stands, office refurbishments and procurement of buses.
Justice Matanda Moyo also cited progress made under the 4Cs Framework — Collaboration, Communication, Cooperation and Coordination involving the JSC, police, Zimbabwe Ant-Corruption Commission (Zacc) and civil society. International ties have also been strengthened through MOUs with Russia’s Prosecutor-General and the Southern African Parliamentarians Network
Against Corruption (SAPNAC), alongside the establishment of the International Anti-Corruption Youth Competition.
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, applauded the efficient High Court Circuit, saying it handed down deterrent sentences ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment for brutal and heinous crimes.
“The clearance of murder cases is a remarkable feat that demonstrates the judiciary’s commitment to delivering justice to the people of Midlands Province,” he said.
Gweru lawyer Mr Esau Mandipa also commended the development, saying it reflects a strengthened justice delivery system.
“The Midlands Province has seen a notable improvement in the administration of justice, and this achievement is a reflection of the efforts being made to strengthen the justice system. As the judiciary continues to work towards ensuring that justice is served, this achievement serves as a beacon of hope for the communities in the province,” he said.
