Nine judges assume office

Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
Nine new judges — three for the Supreme Court and six for the High Court — will today take oaths of office at a swearing in ceremony to be held at the Constitutional Court at Mashonganyika Building in Harare.

The appointment of the new judges, whose names could not be disclosed yesterday, is set to assist in reducing the backlog at courts and improving the quality of justice delivery.

Judicial Service Commission secretary Justice Rita Makarau, in a telephone interview, confirmed the development saying Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku will preside over the swearing in ceremony.

“I do confirm that there will be a swearing in ceremony of three Supreme Court judges and six High Court judges tomorrow (today) at 10am.

“In terms of Section 185 of the Constitution, Chief Justice Chidyausiku will administer the swearing in proceedings,” said Justice Makarau.

Justice Makarau said JSC has also appointed Justice Francis Bere as the new senior judge in charge of Bulawayo High Court to replace the late national hero Justice Andrew Mutema.

“Justice Bere has been transferred to Bulawayo where he will replace the late Justice Mutema as senior judge in charge of the High Court there,” she said.

The nine judges were selected from a group of 56 candidates who participated in the inaugural public interviews conducted last year by the JSC.

Ten candidates — two from the Labour Court and eight from the High Court — participated in the public interviews conducted in July last year at Rainbow Towers in Harare and three of them will be sworn in today.

The 10 candidates were Justice Chinembiri Bhunu, Justice Lavender Makoni, Justice Susan Mavangira, Justice Charles Hungwe, Justice Samuel Kudya, Justice Nicholas Mathonsi, Justice Tendai Uchena, Justice Happias Zhou, Justice Euna Makamure and Justice Mercy Moya-Matshanga.

For the High Court bench, 46 candidates participated, including practicing lawyers and magistrates and only six will be sworn in today.

Yesterday the court officials and the police band were finalising their preparations and rehearsals ahead of the great day.