JSC to recruit judges amid case backlog

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has announced plans to recruit additional judges this year in a strategic move to address mounting case backlogs and improve the delivery of justice across Zimbabwe's courts.

Speaking in Harare, JSC secretary Walter Chikwana said the recruitment drive responds to rising criminal and civil caseloads, staff shortages, and growing demand for judicial services. "The Judicial Service Commission has prioritised the recruitment of additional judges this year as a deliberate measure to address the persistent challenge of case backlogs," he said, noting that delays in finalising cases, particularly in the High Court and specialised courts, have undermined litigants' rights and public confidence in the justice system.

Chikwana added that increasing the number of judges is expected to significantly improve case clearance rates and ensure matters are concluded within reasonable timeframes.

The announcement coincided with the official opening of the 2026 legal year, where Chief Justice Luke Malaba emphasised the importance of deploying adequate and competent staff at all court stations to ensure effective service delivery. Malaba highlighted that the judiciary's decentralisation programme over the past decade, which included opening new magistrates' courts and establishing High Court divisions such as commercial and anti-corruption courts, had not been matched by a proportional increase in judicial and support staff.

Currently, Zimbabwe operates with just 80 judges and 250 magistrates. Malaba warned that the misalignment between staffing levels and workload has significantly contributed to delays and could compromise both the quality and quantity of judicial services. "The number of judges and magistrates in post must be dramatically increased if the Judiciary is to continue performing its constitutional mandate," he said.

The Chief Justice also noted that the country experienced increases in both criminal and civil cases in 2025, driven by economic growth, heightened public awareness of legal rights, and a rise in cases involving dishonesty, including fraud. Magistrates' criminal courts saw their backlog rise from 7,315 to 7,701 cases, while civil courts recorded a dramatic increase from 863 to 6,174 cases. Malaba attributed the surge in civil cases to high volumes of summonses from local authorities, poor supervision, and unnecessary postponements, though measures have been implemented to improve performance.

Meanwhile, the superior courts reduced their backlog, closing 2025 with 10,045 civil cases compared to 12,514 at the start of the year, achieving a reduction of 2,469 cases. Despite the challenges, Malaba commended the judiciary for exceptional performance across all superior courts and magistrates' courts.

The recruitment drive by the JSC is therefore aimed at bolstering judicial capacity, accelerating case finalisations, and restoring public confidence in Zimbabwe's justice delivery system.