Mix-up of names of two judges leaves none of them sworn-in
Source: Government gazette error sparks confusion over ConCourt judges appointments – Zimbabwe News NowJustice Antonia Guvava takes oath of office in front of Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza in Harare on August 27, 2026
HARARE – The justice ministry was on Thursday accused of gross negligence after an erroneous entry in the Government Gazette created confusion over the appointment of judges to the Constitutional Court.
The gazette announced that President Emmerson Mnangagwa, exercising controversial new powers introduced under Constitutional Amendment No. 3, had appointed 14 new judges to the High Court and Labour Court, while elevating others from the High Court to the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court.
It listed three judges as having been elevated to the Constitutional Court – Justice Antonia Guvava, Justice Lavender Mavangira and Justice Chinembiri Bhunu.
But there is no judge called Lavender Mavangira.
The name appears to be a conflation of two judges, Lavender Makoni and Susan Mavangira, raising questions over the identity of the third judge purportedly appointed to the apex court.
As a result, only Justices Bhunu and Guvava were sworn in by Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza on Thursday, leaving unresolved the question of whether Makoni or Mavangira – or both – had been appointed to the Constitutional Court.
The blunder is a major embarrassment for justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, under whose ministry the gazette was issued.
Lawyer Advocate Method Ndlovu was among those who publicly expressed outrage over the faulty government communication.
He told ZimLive: “At the special sitting convened to mark the retirement of former Chief Justice Luke Malaba, it was fittingly observed that judicial power is derived from the people and must, at all times, be exercised in their service. That proposition lies at the very heart of constitutionalism and judicial legitimacy.
“It is therefore intolerable for a Government Gazette – the state’s authoritative instrument for communicating judicial appointments to the very public from whom judicial power is derived – to misstate the names of the judges concerned.
“If the public is officially informed of the wrong names, a serious question arises as to the legal validity and legitimacy of the instrument purporting to record those appointments.
“Such an error is not a harmless typographical blemish. It offends the principle of legality, compromises the certainty demanded of official acts, and undermines public confidence in the administration of justice.”
Ndlovu said it was particularly disconcerting that the gazette “evidently passed through several public offices before publication, yet none detected or corrected an error concerning something as fundamental as the identity of judges appointed to the Constitutional Court.”
“Whoever was responsible must withdraw, correct and republish the notice without delay. Constitutional appointments cannot be left to conjecture, administrative carelessness or retrospective explanation,” he said.
“The public record must state, accurately and unequivocally, the appointments of Mavangira and Makoni to the Constitutional Court. Where judicial authority is concerned, precision is not optional: it is a constitutional imperative.”
Questions have been sent to Ziyambi.
Mnangagwa used his newly vested powers following constitutional amendments that removed the requirement for judges to undergo public interviews before appointment or promotion.
The changes have allowed him to promote several magistrates and appoint officials from state institutions, including the justice ministry, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and Sheriff’s office, to the High Court.
The new High Court judges are Anita Tshuma, Vongai Guwuriro, Gamuchirai Siwardi, Donald Osmond Ndirowei, Justin Uladi, Loveness Ngwanga, Charles Paul Manhiri, Feresy Chakanyuka, Stanford Mambanje, Timeon Makunde and Judith Ziyu.
Manhiri joins the bench from the justice ministry, Uladi from the NPA, while Tshuma was formerly chief registrar of the High Court. Siwardi is the former Chief Sheriff of the High Court.
A large number of the new judges are drawn from the magistracy.
Three of the new judges – all former magistrates – Yvonne Masvora, Estere Chivasa and Taurai Manwere, have been appointed to the Labour Court.
Meanwhile, Justice Gibson Musariri, Justice Gladys Chidziva, Justice Bianca Makwande and Justice Clever Garikai Tsikwa join the High Court from the Labour Court.
Elevated from the High Court to the Supreme Court are Justices Mary Zimba-Dube, Garainesu Mawadze, Happias Zhou, Joseph Martin Mafusire, Amy Tsanga, Esther Muremba, Tapiwa Chitapi and Maxwell Munodawafa Takuva.
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