Online Reporter
Sunday Mail Reporter
THIS year had its fair share of high-profile cases, landmark rulings and legal reforms.
Here is a round-up of the year’s most riveting moments.
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January: The death of the death penalty
The year began on a historic note as Zimbabwe formally abolished the death penalty, sparing 63 prisoners on death row.
This monumental reform, signed into law by President Mnangagwa on December 31, 2024, erased the shadow of capital punishment in a nation that had not carried out an execution since 2005. The prisoners, now facing life imprisonment or determinate sentences, were summoned back to court for resentencing. Advocacy groups, even the Vatican, hailed this as a victory for human rights and a definitive end to Zimbabwe’s chapter of State executions.
February: When an earthly court settled a church feud
In February, the High Court ruled on a decades-long family feud involving Baba Johane Masowe, the revered founder of the Gospel of God Church. His sons, Magaga and Reuben Masedza, were granted the right to exhume and rebury their father’s remains, ending a bitter dispute with church factions. Justice Tawanda Chitapi’s judgment balanced law, tradition and spirituality, restoring dignity to the Masedza family. The Supreme Court’s confirmation of this ruling in December finally brought peace to the saga, allowing the family to honour their father’s legacy.
March: Justice for musician Chillmaster
Musician Kudakwashe “Chillmaster” Hombarume’s culpable homicide case took a dramatic twist when the High Court ordered the reopening of his sentencing. Chillmaster, convicted for a fatal road accident while driving without a licence, had been fined US$200 and sentenced to community service. Outrage followed, with the High Court finding flaws in the trial magistrate’s assessment of negligence and sentencing. Judge President Mary Zimba-Dube ordered a reassessment, ensuring justice addressed both the crime’s severity and public concerns.
August: Chillmaster’s reckoning
Chillmaster was back in the headlines again when the High Court reiterated the importance of judicial diligence in sentencing. His case underscored the Judiciary’s role in balancing remorse with accountability, especially in cases involving loss of life.
October: A magistrate’s missteps
October saw a scathing High Court judgment against a magistrate whose mishandling of a criminal trial exposed glaring judicial incompetence. The convictions of three men accused of unlawful entry were quashed due to structural and analytical flaws in the magistrate’s reasoning. Justices Esther Muremba and Tawanda Chitapi recommended the magistrate’s removal from criminal trials until retraining. The case highlighted the Judiciary’s commitment to upholding standards and protecting the rights of the accused.
November: Challenging laws and land policies
November brought to the fore two major legal developments.
- Abortion law
The High Court declared parts of the Termination of Pregnancy Act unconstitutional, particularly its exclusion of mental health as grounds for abortion. Justice Sylvia Chirawu-Mugomba’s ruling sparked debate, emphasising equality and access to healthcare for mentally ill women. The Constitutional Court will now decide whether to uphold this judgment.
- Rogue war veterans lose land case
A group of war veterans faced a legal setback when the High Court dismissed their challenge to the Government’s land tenure policy, which allows title deeds for beneficiaries of the Land Reform Programme. Justice Samuel Deme ruled that the policy aligned with constitutional provisions, rejecting claims that it violated land administration laws.
December: Goat saga finally comes to an end
The year ended with the dramatic conclusion of Zimbabwe’s largest post-independence fraud case.
Businessmen Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for defrauding the Government of US$7,7 million under the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme.
The scam, involving forged documents and a fictitious company, deprived targeted communities of critical resources. Justice Pisirayi Kwenda described the duo’s crime as “premeditated and meticulously executed”. Mpofu and Chimombe have since expressed their intention to appeal, setting the stage for a potential showdown in the Supreme Court.
A victory for Minister Marian Chombo
In another December headline, Minister Marian Chombo triumphed in her Supreme Court appeal against a US$100 000 legal fees dispute with lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa.
The court ordered a review of the debt under Zimbabwe’s currency conversion laws, marking a twist in this high-stakes legal saga.
A year of turning points
From abolishing the death penalty to exposing corruption and reshaping controversial laws, 2025 was a year that tested Zimbabwe’s legal fraternity.
These cases not only shaped the nation’s justice system but also reflected the enduring struggle for accountability, fairness and reform.
