High Court divorce filings surge 27% in 2025

The High Court of Zimbabwe recorded a sharp increase in divorce applications last year, with 3 989 cases filed between January and December 2025-a 27 percent rise from 3 138 cases in 2024, according to statistics from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Despite the surge in applications, completed divorces fell by 15 percent, from 2 939 in 2024 to 2 493 in 2025, highlighting growing pressure on the court system.

The High Court handles divorce matters under the Matrimonial Causes Act from its five main stations: Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Mutare, and Chinhoyi. Grounds for divorce include irretrievable breakdown of marriage, adultery, abuse, and prolonged separation.

Harare accounted for the largest share of cases, with filings rising from 1 939 in 2024 to 2 386 in 2025-a 23 percent increase-while completed divorces declined from 1 844 to 1 393, a 24 percent drop. Bulawayo saw registrations jump from 754 to 1 052, a 40 percent increase, while completions fell slightly from 710 to 640.

Smaller stations showed more stable trends. Masvingo recorded 208 new applications with 156 completions, while Mutare saw 221 applications with 210 cases finalised. Chinhoyi registered a slight increase in filings, from 108 to 122, with completions declining marginally from 98 to 94.

In contrast, marriage statistics indicate that 11 160 couples were legally wed in 2025, with Harare leading at 4 053 marriages, suggesting that while marriage remains popular, marital stability is under strain.

Experts attribute the rising divorce trend to a combination of social, economic, and cultural factors. Labour migration, changing gender roles, and weakening traditional family support systems have all contributed to marital breakdowns.

Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) chairperson Ms Fungayi Jessie Majome noted that greater legal awareness and access to justice, particularly for women, have empowered more people to seek divorce. She highlighted the role of the Legal Aid Directorate, which provides free legal advice and representation nationwide in matters including divorce, maintenance, domestic violence, and property disputes.

Bulawayo lawyer Mrs Nikiwe Ncube-Tshabalala pointed to economic pressures and diaspora employment as major contributors. "You have people going to the diaspora or couples separating because of economic reasons. Marriages become intolerable, leading to divorce," she said, adding that the erosion of traditional family structures has weakened guidance and support for couples.

Family law experts also cited shifting social expectations and financial independence as key drivers. Counsellor and lawyer Mr Prince Butshe-Dube said, "Women are now more emancipated and financially independent, which makes it easier to exit unhealthy marriages."

Retired High Court judge Justice Lawrence Kamocha noted that infidelity remains the leading cause of divorce, often worsened by long separations due to diaspora work. He also cited physical and emotional abuse, urging parents to allow adult children to manage their marriages independently to reduce interference.

Marriage counsellor Mr Innocent Moyo highlighted poor communication and delayed intervention as factors that exacerbate marital problems, while Reverend Mkhululi Tshuma of Harvest House International Church called the statistics a serious indictment on society, urging intensified premarital and marital counselling by churches, family elders, and communities.

The rising divorce trend in Zimbabwe reflects a complex mix of economic hardship, changing social norms, and evolving expectations within marriage, posing challenges for families, communities, and the judicial system alike.