Gweru High Court Circuit Opens, Judiciary Rolls Out 2026 Calendar
n By Dumisani Ndlovu n nn n Bulawayo - High Court judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi on Monday, January 19, 2026, officially opened the Gweru High Court circuit, expected to hear at least 28 cases over a two-week period at the Gweru Magistrat
anostrofy By Dumisani Ndlovu
Bulawayo - High Court judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi on Monday, January 19, 2026, officially opened the Gweru High Court circuit, expected to hear at least 28 cases over a two-week period at the Gweru Magistrates’ Court.
The circuit, which runs from 19 January to 30 January 2026, is the first High Court sitting for the year in the Midlands Province and is being held in line with the 2026 High Court calendar gazetted under General Notice 1409A of 2025 in terms of section 47 of the High Court Act [Chapter 7:06].
Although the Provincial Public Prosecutor declined to comment, documents seen by this reporter show inconsistencies between the cause list and the court roll, with the former reflecting 38 cases while the latter indicates that 28 matters will be heard during the two-week sitting.
Unlike in previous years, no cases were gazetted for the Gokwe High Court circuit in 2026.
Judicial sources attribute this development to a significant reduction in the High Court backlog in the Midlands, which had at one point risen to about 500 cases during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The opening of the Gweru circuit falls within the High Court’s first term for 2026, which runs from 12 January to 27 March, as provided for in the official calendar signed by Chief Justice Luke Malaba in his capacity as Chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission.
The calendar further provides for an Easter vacation from 28 March to 10 May, followed by the second term running from 11 May to 31 July, a mid-year vacation from 1 August to 6 September, and a third term stretching from 7 September to 27 November.
The courts will then adjourn for the Christmas vacation from 28 November 2026 to 10 January 2027.
In terms of the same calendar, Gweru is also scheduled to host three High Court circuits in 2026, with the current sitting being followed by circuits in May and September, while Hwange will host sittings in March, June to July and October.
