Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Chief Justice Luke Malaba has directed all judges to attend training sessions hosted by ZANU PF’s Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology, scheduled for July 4 and 5, 2025, according to a programme obtained by ZimLive.
The sessions, which form part of a broader initiative said to be organised by the Office of the President and Cabinet, will also feature briefings from Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) director-general Fulton Mangwanya and chief secretary to the president and cabinet, Martin Rushwaya.
According to correspondence sent to the judiciary, the training is intended to familiarise judges with the Integrated Results-Based Management System (IRBM), which is linked to the performance evaluation of judicial officers.
However, the move has sparked discomfort within legal circles. A judge who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed concern, describing the development as a “violation” of judicial independence and a desecration of constitutional values. Added the judge:
The independence of the judiciary is a cornerstone of our democratic system. It is imperative that judges and judicial officers operate free from any political influence to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice.
What is performance evaluation of judges by the government?
Training programmes that are linked to the deep state and to political entities risk compromising our independence and could lead to perceptions of bias, thereby undermining public confidence in our judicial system.
We believe that training for the judiciary should be conducted by qualified, non-partisan professionals who are committed to upholding the rule of law and the principles of justice.
The JSC must consider alternative arrangements that prioritise the integrity and impartiality of our judicial training.
Judges will also attend presentations by senior government officials, including Finance Secretary George Guvamatanga, who is expected to give “an overview of the economic outlook for the remainder of 2025 and beyond.”
Charles Mujajati, a director in the Ministry of Finance, will address “achievements and challenges under the National Development Strategy 1 and the roadmap for NDS2.”
The judges are also expected to attend sessions led by Ishmael Mada, principal of the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology. Mada, a senior ZANU PF figure, succeeded Munyaradzi Machacha, who now serves as the party’s secretary for the commissariat.
In a 2022 interview with the state-run Sunday Mail, Machacha described the Chitepo School as a “party school” for ZANU PF, created to instil “ideological consciousness” and promote “national orientation” among party members. Said the judge:
As judges, we are deeply disappointed in the Chief Justice’s actions, which undermine judicial independence.
As the guardian of our constitutional framework, he has a critical role in upholding the integrity of the judiciary. Instead, his actions have eroded trust and compromised the institution’s credibility.
He is front and centre of these crass violations. It’s particularly concerning that this is happening in his final months in office.
He wants to leave behind a judiciary that’s vulnerable and that lacks public confidence. This shall forever define his legacy.
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