17 magistrates sworn in as JSC moves to boost court capacity

New magistrates sworn in during the ceremony in Harare

HARARE – The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has sworn in 17 new magistrates as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen capacity and reduce case backlogs across Zimbabwe’s courts.

The swearing-in ceremony, held in Harare on Tuesday, comes as the judiciary moves to expand the magistracy to 300 officers from the current 268.

Chief magistrate Vongai Guwuriro said the recruitment drive is aimed at easing pressure on courts facing rising case volumes nationwide.

“The 17 magistrates will be deployed to stations nationwide as we continue to capacitate our courts and balance workload pressures,” Guwuriro said. “We are receiving a high volume of cases, so we are matching that demand with increased staffing. Another group of magistrates is also set to graduate soon.”

Zimbabwe’s magistrates’ courts handle the bulk of the country’s criminal and civil matters, making staffing levels critical to the efficiency of the justice delivery system.

Guwuriro said the recruitment programme is also addressing attrition within the judiciary, as some magistrates leave the bench for other opportunities.

“Some magistrates are leaving the bench, so we are addressing those gaps to ensure courts remain fully operational,” she said.

To improve accountability and productivity, the JSC has implemented a performance monitoring system that tracks output across the judiciary.

“Each magistrate is expected to complete at least 60 cases per month,” Guwuriro said. “We monitor performance through daily, weekly, and monthly reports to ensure efficiency.”

Legal analysts say increasing the number of magistrates is key to reducing delays in the justice system, particularly in lower courts where case congestion is most acute.

“Expanding the bench is essential for timely justice delivery,” said Harare-based legal expert Tendai Muchengeti. “Delays undermine public confidence in the legal system.”

Of the 17 newly appointed magistrates, 12 are male. Guwuriro said the intake reflects efforts to balance gender representation, noting that women currently dominate in the lower courts. The latest appointments are part of broader judicial reforms aimed at improving access to justice, reducing case backlogs, and enhancing service delivery across Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe magistrates sworn in