Online Reporter
Sunday Mail Reporter
CHIEF JUSTICE Luke Malaba will preside over the official opening of the 2025 legal year at the Bulawayo High Court tomorrow, marking a historic departure from the traditional venue at the Constitutional Court in Harare.
Similar ceremonies to open the legal year will also be held simultaneously across other provinces, led by Constitutional Court judges.
“Everything is in place for the opening of the 2025 legal year,” said Judicial Service Commission head of corporate services Mr Daniel Nemukuyu.
“We are currently fine-tuning our preparations. Rehearsals for the ceremony will take place this Saturday (yesterday) and Sunday at our High Court locations in Bulawayo, Harare, Mutare, Chinhoyi and Masvingo, leading up to the official opening on Monday, January 13, 2025.”
This year’s main event will take place in Bulawayo.
“The Chief Justice of Zimbabwe, Mr Luke Malaba, will lead the main event at the Bulawayo High Court,” he said.
“For a change, this year’s main ceremony will take place in Bulawayo, where the Chief Justice will host a dinner for approximately 200 delegates.
“Simultaneously, a replica of the ceremony will be held in Harare, Mutare, Masvingo and Chinhoyi.”
Deputy Chief Justice Mrs Elizabeth Gwaunza will preside over the event in Harare, while Mrs Marie-Anne Gowora, a judge of the Constitutional Court, will oversee the ceremony in Masvingo.
In Mutare, Justice Ben Hlatshwayo, also a judge of the Constitutional Court, will headline proceedings, while the Deputy Judge President, Justice Garainesu Mawadze, will preside over proceedings at Chinhoyi High Court.
“This year we are going to continue with the trajectory we have taken of decentralising the courts,” said Mr Nemukuyu.
“We are going to make sure that all the courts we established in 2024 are fully functional and we support them with resources so that members of the public residing in those areas have access to justice.”
The JSC, he said, will also enhance its interactions with traditional chiefs.
“As the JSC, we have taken a position that we will support the customary and local courts and capacitate them to deliver quality justice.”
