THE legal community is mourning the loss of Justice Moses Hungwe Chinhengo, a decorated former Supreme Court judge, who passed away at Masvingo Provincial Hospital yesterday.
His death marks the end of an illustrious career in law and public service.
Justice Chinhengo, who resigned from the bench in February 2004, was known for his extensive judicial experience both locally and internationally.
Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) Editorial Advisory Board chairperson Muchadeyi Ashton Masunda described Justice Chinhengo as a “self-deprecating, but gregarious” person, adding that more often, “he was thoughtful in his personal relationships and frequently went out of his way to help colleagues, especially those who were not necessarily clued up on matters pertaining to law”.
“The AMH Editorial Advisory Board of Trustees is eternally indebted to the late Justice Moses Hungwe Chinhengo’s invaluable and tangibly lasting contribution in the sense that since he assumed the pivotal and unduly onerous role as the Ombudsman for the AMH Group,” Masunda said.
“There has been an infinitely marked reduction of claims for damages arising from the allegedly defamatory stories that get published from time to time in any of the leading media house’s publications, namely NewsDay, Zimbabwe Independent, The Standard and Southern Eye.
“His ultimate goal was the attainment of factually correct, informative, fair and balanced coverage of newsworthy issues without the scribes getting carried away and ending up, wittingly or unwittingly, defaming any of the persons involved in the subject matter of any of the articles concerned.”
Respected constitutional lawyer Lovemore Madhuku described Justice Chinhengo as an outstanding jurist.
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‘While most judges find it difficult to remain impartial at all times, Justice Chinhengo effortlessly discharged his judicial duties with absolute impartiality.
“His long career in law was characterised by a passionate devotion to the rule of law and to the truism that law ought to be just, fair and of service to the generality of the people,” Madhuku said.
“In the last 10 years of his life, he had become an arbitrator of first choice for most disputes in both the commercial world and the labour market.
“He was always ready to impart his sharp legal skills to colleagues in the legal fraternity through workshops, seminars and lectures.
“We have lost a giant in law. Zimbabweans must be proud of the fact that Justice Chinhengo’s services as a judge were highly regarded in Sadc, particularly in Botswana, Namibia and Lesotho, thereby raising, to the highest level, our reputation as a land of well grounded legal professionals.
“I count it as a personal privilege to have worked closely with him in many areas.”
Justice Chinhengo served as a judge of the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe and held various acting judicial roles in Botswana, Namibia and Lesotho.
His notable contributions include presiding over high-profile cases, including the ongoing Fishrot trial in Namibia, which involved allegations of corruption related to fishing quotas.
Born on October 29, 1955, in Masvingo province, Chinhengo obtained his LLB (Honours) from the University of Zimbabwe.
During his university years, he was politically active and worked for Munich Re in Johannesburg, South Africa, contributing to the liberation struggle known as the Second Chimurenga.
Chinhengo began his career in public service shortly after Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980.
He was appointed undersecretary at the Justice and Foreign Affairs ministry, and later became the head of the Department of Parliamentary Affairs.
His legal acumen led him to serve as chief legal officer at the Justice ministry until 1989, after which he transitioned to the private sector.
In 1996, Chinhengo was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe.
He participated in the Chidyausiku Commission in 1999, which aimed to draft a new constitution for the country, although the draft was ultimately rejected in a 2000 referendum.
His tenure on the Supreme Court ended in 2004 when he resigned, citing concerns over Executive interference in judicial matters.
Chinhengo’s judicial expertise extended beyond Zimbabwe as he took on roles in various international and regional judicial bodies.
He served as acting judge of Namibia’s Supreme Court and was involved in numerous fact-finding missions for the International Commission of Jurists across Africa.
His passing at the age of 69 leaves a significant void in the legal community.
As tributes pour in, Justice Chinhengo will be remembered not only for his contributions to the Judiciary, but also for his unwavering commitment to justice and integrity throughout his career.
Justice Chinhengo is survived by four children and three grandchildren. Burial arrangements are yet to be advised.
