The Effectiveness of the Zimbabwean judicial system in delivering justice: the case of the High Court

Author

Chapfimvira, Innocent.

Title

The Effectiveness of the Zimbabwean judicial system in delivering justice: the case of the High Court

Abstract

The judicial system stands as the cornerstone of justice delivery, embodying the principles of fairness, accountability and the rule of law. In Zimbabwe, the effectiveness of the system has been a subject of intense scrutiny particularly in light persistent challenges such as judicial independence, resource constrains and public trust deficits. The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of the Zimbabwean judicial system in delivering justice focusing on the case of the high court. The objectives of the study included to understand the role of the high court in delivering Justice in Zimbabwe and to show the effects of judicial misconduct by judicial system in delivering justice in Zimbabwe. The other objective was to recommend solutions, strategies and Mechanisms to increase the effectiveness of the high court in delivering justice in Zimbabwe. Through the mixed methodology approach, the research found out that the high court is not very effective in delivering justice through analysis of the factors that underpin the judicial effectiveness. These factors included the judicial independence, access to justice, quality of justice and judicial efficiency. Through analysis these underpinning factors, the research found the loss of confidence of the public towards the judiciary, loss of hope and trust and the erosion of the rule of law. By benchmarking Zimbabwe’s judicial framework against regional and international standards, this research identifies critical gaps and proposes actionable recommendations to enhance the system’s efficiency. Ultimately, this thesis argues that a robust independent, transparent, efficient, accountable, accessible justice system is not only essential for justice delivery but also for fostering public confidence and sustaining democratic governance in Zimbabwe. The findings aim to contribute to ongoing discourse on judicial reform and provide a roadmap for strengthening the rule of law in Zimbabwe.

Date

March 2025

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Judicial system

Hustice

High court

Supervisor

Dr. R. Chipaike,