MARTIN MAWAYA
Masvingo-The High Court in Masvingo demonstrated outstanding performance in 2024, achieving a civil case clearance rate of 89% and a criminal case clearance rate of 94%.

The Magistrates Courts also performed exceptionally well, with a civil case clearance rate of 99% and a criminal case clearance rate of 98%.
According to Justice Anne-Marie Gowora, Judge of the Constitutional Court, the substantial volume of cases handled by the courts in relation to the limited number of judges is a testament to the remarkable dedication and resilience of the judicial officers.

“Their staunch dedication to ensuring the swift resolution of cases brought before them is a testament to their tenacity and professionalism,” Gowora said during the official opening of the 2025 legal year on Monday.
The High Court began the year with 20 civil cases carried over from 2023 and received an additional 893 bringing them to 913.

The judges managed to finalize 810 cases, leaving 103 pending resolution.
Justice Gowora noted that the criminal division of the High Court started with 32 cases from 2023 and received 1 877 new ones.
The court finalized 1 719 cases, leaving 118 pending.

In the Magistrates Courts, the civil division began with 76 cases from 2023 and received an additional 4,738, totaling 4,814 cases.
The courts completed 4,772 cases, leaving 42 pending.
The criminal division started with 173 cases from 2023 and received 6,933 more.
The courts finalized 6,979 cases, leaving 127 pending.

Gowora acknowledged the efforts of various stakeholders, including legal practitioners, assessors, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, traditional leaders, and government ministries, for their support in enabling the judiciary to perform at such a high level.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) also made significant strides in 2024, establishing five regional courts and eight circuit courts and completing the modern Chiredzi Magistrates Court.
This year, the JSC plans to focus on constructing several additional court complexes, including the Judicial Training Institute of Zimbabwe, to further enhance the judiciary’s capacity and efficiency.
“The Judiciary does not operate in a vacuum,” Gowora said. “It functions hand-in-hand with various stakeholders who enable it to thrive in its quest to deliver world-class justice. The outstanding performance of the High Court Masvingo and Magistrates Courts in 2024 is a testament to the collaborative efforts of all involved.”