Midlands High Court backlog sees remarkable decline

By Dumisani Ndlovu

The wheels of justice in the Midlands are turning faster, with the long-standing backlog of High Court cases showing a remarkable decline.

Midlands Provincial Public Prosecutor, Johannes Tlou, has confirmed a significant reduction in the assizes list for both the Gweru and Gokwe circuits.

According to data from the Office of Provincial Public Prosecutor (PPP), the backlog has consistently shrunk between January 2024 and May 2025, signaling a positive trend in the administration of justice.

In just the first week ending January 24, 2025, the High Court finalized 60 cases—an improvement from the 50 cases completed during the same period in the previous year’s circuit. Of these, 24 offenders were convicted of murder and handed sentences ranging from 18 years to life imprisonment.

Another 24 cases were reduced to culpable homicide, while 12 accused persons were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

The establishment of special circuit courts, designed to tackle a staggering backlog of more than 500 cases dating as far back as 2019, has been central to this success. The first phase of the special circuit, held in September 2024, cleared nearly 140 cases with an impressive 90 percent completion rate.

Initially, five judges presided over the hearings in the province.

However, reflecting the sharp decline in pending cases, the third and final circuit will now be handled by only two judges: Justice Munamato Mutevedzi at the Gweru bench, which is set to hear 22 cases, and Justice Mungwari at the Gokwe bench, which will preside over 29 cases.

The dramatic reduction in the backlog is being hailed as a milestone for the Midlands judiciary, offering hope for quicker access to justice for both victims and accused persons.