Six senior lawyers who succeeded in interviews conducted by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) last year were yesterday sworn in as High Court judges alongside three Supreme Court judges by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku.
BY CHARLES LAITON The swearing-in of the six judges at a ceremony in Harare brings to 35 the total number of High Court judges for Bulawayo and Harare, while Supreme Court judges are now 13.
Sworn into office as Supreme Court judges were Justices Susan Chitsva Mavangira, Chinembiri Energy Bhunu and Tendai Fanuel Uchena.
The new High Court judges are Justices Davison Moses Foroma, Jester Helena Charehwa, Clement Phiri, Tawanda Chitapi, Edith Kuda Mushore and Nyaradzo Priscilla Munangati Manongwa.
Addressing journalists after the ceremony, JSC secretary Justice Rita Makarau said the increase in the number of judges would go a long way in augmenting the current pool of judicial officers, who in turn would help in clearing the backlog of criminal cases especially in circuit courts across the country.
“The selection process yielded the best results and I am pleased that among the sworn-in judges are four women, one for the Supreme Court and three for the High Court,” Justice Makarau said.
“The increase in the number of judges will also give the Chief Justice a large pool of judicial officers from where to pick judges for the circuit courts . . . our intention is to clear the backlog of cases and, as you are aware, Harare has a large catchment area and the court has always been busy.”
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Deputy Prosecutor-General Florence Ziyambi commended the move by the JSC to increase the number of judges, saying her office would also be assisted as more criminal cases would be dispensed with quickly.
“I am happy that the JSC has appointed very seasoned lawyers that we hold in high esteem. These are very hardworking people and no doubt, they are going to add efficiency in the justice delivery system,” Ziyambi said.
An ecstatic Justice Bhunu said: “My appointment to the Supreme Court bench will obviously enhance the speedy dispensation of justice in our country.”
Newly sworn-in High Court judge Justice Foroma simply said: “There is a time in life when one leaves practicing and moves on and for me, this was a deserved point forward.”
