CHIEF Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza has challenged magistrates to uphold the highest standards of competence, integrity and discipline while embracing digital transformation and prioritising their mental well-being as the judiciary strengthens justice delivery.
Officially opening the 2026 National Magistrates’ Conference in Bulawayo on Friday, Chief Justice Gwaunza said magistrates are the public face of the judiciary and must discharge their duties professionally, ethically and efficiently to maintain public confidence in the justice system.
Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza addressing during the Magistrates Conference held at a local hotel on. Bulawayo yesterday
She said competence is not optional but a constitutional obligation and reminded judicial officers that Section 165 of the Constitution requires them to continually improve their professional knowledge, skills and personal qualities.
“For many citizens, the magistrate is the face of justice. Every magistrate therefore carries not only the responsibility of deciding cases according to law but also of strengthening public confidence in the administration of justice through the manner in which judicial authority is exercised,” said Chief Justice Gwaunza.
She warned against corruption, absenteeism, unnecessary delays in delivering judgments and any conduct that undermines the dignity of judicial office.
“There is no room in the judiciary for any form of misconduct. A magistrate who fails to attend to work diligently, delays judgments without lawful or reasonable cause, neglects court duties or solicits improper benefits undermines both the oath of office and the authority of the court,” she said.
The Chief Justice stressed that judicial competence must also be reflected in the quality of judgments delivered.
“A judgment is the public expression of a magistrate’s reasoning. Clarity of thought, careful assessment of facts and the correct application of the law remain the hallmarks of a sound judgment,” said the Chief Justice.
Chief Justice Gwaunza described magistrates as critical pillars in the administration of justice, saying their work directly influences public confidence in the courts.
“It has been more than three years since magistrates from across the country gathered in a forum of this nature. That gap should remind us not only of the demands of judicial service but also of the importance of occasions such as this,” she said.
“The conference brings together a magistracy that is otherwise dispersed across the country and provides a rare opportunity to reflect, learn from one another and strengthen our shared commitment to the administration of justice.”
Held under the theme: “Competency, Well-being and Effective Justice Delivery in the Magistracy,” the conference brought together magistrates from across Zimbabwe for their first national gathering in more than three years.
Chief Justice Gwaunza said the event offered judicial officers from different provinces an opportunity to exchange experiences, strengthen professional relationships and reinforce common standards of judicial practice.
She also highlighted the importance of the welfare of judicial officers, saying mental well-being is now an essential component of effective justice delivery.
Magistrates, Chief Justice Gwaunza said, are routinely exposed to traumatic evidence, complex disputes and decisions with life-changing consequences, making psychosocial support indispensable.
“A judicial officer who is supported in managing those pressures is better able to exercise the patience, balance and clarity of thought that justice demands. By investing in the well-being of magistrates, the Commission is also investing in the quality of judicial decision-making,” she said.
On judicial reforms, Chief Justice Gwaunza said the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) continues to transform the country’s justice delivery system.
She said Manicaland and Mashonaland East became the latest provinces to implement the platform last month, while preparations for Phase 4.4, covering Midlands and Mashonaland West, are now at an advanced stage.
“The move towards e-justice is no longer a future aspiration. It is the direction in which our Judiciary is moving, and it is a journey which we must all embrace and undertake together,” she said.
Chief Justice Gwaunza also commended the adoption of the Integrated Results-Based Management framework, saying it had introduced measurable performance standards that enhance accountability while safeguarding judicial independence.
She welcomed delegates from the Namibian magistracy, describing their participation as another milestone in the growing partnership between the two judiciaries following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in 2024.
She said continued collaboration in judicial education, mediation and electronic case management would strengthen both institutions through the exchange of best practices.
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