The Zimbabwean Chief Justice, Luke Malaba has officially opened the 2025 legal year, with Bulawayo hosting the main event for the first time in line with Government’s devolution policy. The 2025’s theme, is “Building Public Confidence in the Judiciary Through Stakeholder Participation”.
For the first time, the opening ceremony was held outside Harare, marking a significant shift in the judiciary’s approach to inclusivity and decentralisation. This aligns with the Government’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and the Second Republic’s commitment to devolution.
Speaking during the official opening of the 2025 legal year in Bulawayo yesterday, Chief Justice Malaba highlighted the establishment of the National Council on Administration of the Criminal Justice System as a critical step towards expediting criminal trials and fostering co-operation.
Chief Justice Luke Malaba has called for enhanced collaboration among stakeholders in the justice delivery system, emphasising that the judiciary alone cannot build public confidence without the support of the entire criminal justice value chain.
The Chief Justice reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to accountability, noting that the performance of courts and judicial officers is closely monitored through the JSC performance management system.
“Achieving this goal requires a shared commitment to fulfilling our constitutional obligations that underpin the administration of justice. The active participation and collaboration of the judiciary and its stakeholders is essential, as without this collective effort, fostering public trust in the judiciary will remain unattainable,” Chief Justice said.
“The judiciary must remain exemplary, not only in its professional duties but also in the personal conduct of its officers. Judicial misconduct, if left unchecked, can undermine the public trust that is foundational to our justice system,” he added.