Chief Justice Luke Malaba to Retire in May

Chief Justice Luke Malaba will retire in May 2026 after more than four decades in the judiciary (image source)

HARARE — Chief Justice Luke Malaba will retire from his positions as Judge and Chief Justice on May 15, 2026, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has announced. His last working day will be midnight on May 14, with commemorative events planned to mark the conclusion of his judicial career.

The JSC said a special sitting of the court will be held in his honour on May 14, followed by a dinner to be attended by colleagues, constitutional bodies and regional dignitaries.

Malaba’s retirement is in line with Section 186(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which requires judges, including the Chief Justice, to retire at the age of 70 unless they opt to extend their tenure by five years. Malaba exercised this option in 2021, extending his service to 2026.

The commission dismissed reports suggesting that Malaba had refused to proceed on pre-retirement leave, clarifying that such leave is discretionary rather than mandatory. “There is no legal obligation for the Chief Justice to go on pre-retirement leave. Characterising the exercise of a lawful discretion as a ‘refusal’ is erroneous and creates a false impression of impropriety,” the JSC said.

(image source)

Chief Justice Malaba has served in the role since March 27, 2017, having previously been Zimbabwe’s first Deputy Chief Justice from 2008 to 2017. His judicial career spans more than four decades, beginning as a prosecutor in 1981 before progressing through the ranks to magistrate, High Court judge, Judge of Appeal, Deputy Chief Justice and Chief Justice.

Beyond Zimbabwe, Malaba served as a judge of the COMESA Court of Justice from 2005 to 2016 and is currently President of the Conference of Constitutional Jurisdictions of Africa (2024–2026). He is widely regarded as a human rights advocate, having delivered landmark judgments that strengthened protections for vulnerable groups.

During his tenure, the Judiciary expanded access to justice, simplified court rules and introduced the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS), which digitised court processes nationwide. He also established the Judicial Training Institute of Zimbabwe to strengthen judicial capacity through structured training programmes.

Chief Justice Malaba holds law degrees from the University of Warwick (1974) and the University of Zimbabwe (1982). His retirement will mark the end of an era in Zimbabwe’s judiciary, closing a career defined by reform, regional engagement and a sustained commitment to justice.