Bulawayo courts handle over 9000 criminal cases in 2025

Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza has commended judicial officials in Bulawayo for handling a significant volume of cases in 2025, despite operating with a limited number of judges and magistrates.

Speaking at the official opening of the 2026 legal year at the Bulawayo High Court, Justice Gwaunza said court statistics showed an increase in both civil and criminal cases across all levels of the justice system in the city.

She highlighted that the volume of cases received exceeded opening balances across the superior and specialised courts, citing an active court-user population and continued public confidence in the judiciary.

According to statistics presented by DCJ Gwaunza, the magistrates’ courts in Bulawayo handled over 9 000 criminal cases in 2025 alone.

“With specific reference to criminal matters in the Bulawayo Magistrates Court, the year opened with an opening balance of 670 cases. During the period under review, the court received 8 870 new criminal cases, bringing the total caseload to 9 540 matters. Of these, 8 670 cases were finalised, resulting in a closing balance of 870 cases at year end,” she said.

“The criminal division of the High Court recorded the highest volume of cases. The court opened the year with 205 matters and received an additional 5 883 cases, bringing the total to 6 088 matters.

“Of these, 5 911 were finalised, leaving a closing balance of 177 cases. The court in Bulawayo received 4 665 criminal reviews during 2025. Out of these, 4 598 cases were completed, leaving a balance of only 67.”

DCJ Gwaunza added that the High Court civil and family divisions also recorded high caseloads during the year.

“The High Court Civil Division recorded particularly heavy volumes. It began the year with 1 966 cases and received 1 648 new matters, resulting in a caseload of 3 614. The court finalised 2 909 cases, leaving a balance of 705,” she said.

“The High Court Family Division dealt with 3 047 matters after opening with 1 221 cases and receiving 1 826 new filings. With 2 486 cases finalised, the closing balance stood at 561.

“This high number of family-related matters show a society increasingly turning to formal legal mechanisms to resolve domestic disputes.”

At the Supreme Court sitting in Bulawayo, DCJ Gwaunza said the year opened with 33 matters and received 224 new cases, bringing the total workload to 257. Of these, 204 cases were finalised, leaving a closing balance of 53.

She noted that the Labour Court also experienced increased activity, dealing with 355 cases and finalising 276.

Despite praising the resilience and diligence of judicial officers and support staff, DCJ Gwaunza warned that the high workload was placing immense strain on the limited number of judges and magistrates, with potential consequences for their health.

“The sustained volume of cases continues to place judicial officers under considerable strain, with potential implications for both institutional sustainability and individual well-being,” she said.

“The highly commendable performances by all the judges and support staff within the JSC as a whole should not detract from the reality that there is a serious shortage of judges and magistrates in the country.

“For instance here in Bulawayo there are only seven High Court Judges who within the course of 2025 tackled and completed very high quantities of work. The shortage is making the incumbents operate under unbearable pressure and may ultimately affect not only the quality of their work but their health as well.”