HARARE – Justice Luke Malaba could be well on his way to sealing his legacy as the worst Chief Justice in the country’s history with judges being forced to attend a two day training conference that will feature a presentation from an official from Zanu PF’s Chitepo School of Ideology and another one from the head of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).
A judge who spoke to Nehanda Radio said; “On 4 to 5 July 2025 we are scheduled to attend some conference at the Rainbow Towers hotel under the guise of an induction of judges on the results based management system relating to the performance of judges.”
“We are due to receive presentations from all manner of operatives from the OPC including Martin Rushwaya – Chief Secretary to the President, Chairman of the Public Service Commission.
“The nadir of disgrace for me is some presentations to be made by some character from the Chitepo School of Ideology on some unnamed topic!” the judge said.
“I find it disgusting! The CJ says the workshop is compulsory. He’s completely sold out and at this rate I see us being forced to chant party slogans and attend party rallies.
“Judges need to push back. Unfortunately there is absolutely no chance of a consensus on anything. The Bench is heavily infiltrated and contaminated,” the judge added.
According to the programme seen by Nehanda Radio, the judges will sit through sessions by Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) boss Fulton Mangwanya and the Chief Secretary to the president and cabinet Martin Rushwaya.
The judges are being told the training has been organised by the Office of the President to familiarise them with the “Integrated Results Based Management System (IRBM) relating to the performance evaluation of judges.”
Other people to make presentations at the conference will include finance secretary George Guvamatanga and Charles Mujajati, a director in the finance ministry.
The most controversial of the presentations will be made by Ishmael Mada, the principal of the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology. He was appointed by Zanu PF to succeed Munyaradzi Machacha, now the party’s secretary for the commissariat.
Machacha once declared that the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology was set up as a “party school for Zanu PF to instil “ideological consciousness” and “national orientation” in the party membership.
The conference once again puts the spotlight on Malaba who had his term as Chief Justice controversially extended in May 2021 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa even though he had reached the retirement age of 70.
Mnangagwa extended the term despite a High Court ruling that made it clear any constitutional amendments could not benefit the incumbent.
Malaba then used his influence in the Constitutional Court, which he heads, to overturn the High Court ruling.
He has been accused of colluding with President Mnangagwa to victimise judges that defy instructions from the regime.
In September 2022, the High Court judge who ruled against Malaba, Justice Edith Mushore, was later fired by Mnangagwa.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) recommended that Mushore be investigated over allegations that she “disappeared” without official leave since the June 2021.
The same year Mnangagwa sacked former High Court judge Erica Ndewere for “gross incompetence”.
This was however viewed by critics as a punishment for Ndewere after she granted bail to then opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Vice Chairman Job Sikhala (MP) in 2020.
