Elizabeth Gwaunza Appointed Zimbabwe’s First Female Chief Justice
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Elizabeth Gwaunza as Zimbabwe’s next Chief Justice, making history as the first woman to hold the country’s highest judicial office. Gwaunza succeeds Luke Malaba, who retires on May 15 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75. Before her appointment, Gwaunza served as Deputy Chief Justice under Malaba and has been one of the country’s most senior judicial figures for several years.
Meanwhile, Paddington Garwe has been appointed the new Deputy Chief Justice. The appointments mark a significant transition within Zimbabwe’s judiciary, coming at a time when the courts continue to face scrutiny over constitutional matters, governance disputes, and high-profile political cases.
Gwaunza’s elevation is also being viewed as a landmark moment for gender representation in Zimbabwe’s legal system, with many legal practitioners and observers expected to closely watch her leadership of the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court. Judicial Service Commission is expected to oversee the formal transition as Malaba exits office after years at the helm of Zimbabwe’s judiciary.
Elizabeth Gwaunza
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