CHIEF Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza has called upon newly-appointed High Court judges to execute their duties diligently with impartiality, integrity and honesty.
The Chief Justice made the remarks yesterday in Gweru, during the opening of a three-day induction workshop for the 15 new High Court judges.
"Section 185(2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that before a judge other than the Chief Justice or Deputy Chief Justice assumes office he or she must take the judicial oath prescribed in the Third Schedule,"Gwaunza said.
"The oath contains an understanding to uphold and protect the Constitution and to administer justice to all persons alike without fear, favour or prejudice, in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
The oath is not merely ceremonial language which ceases to matter when the swearing-in ceremony ended. It is an abiding promise. It is a promise you made to Zimbabwe. It is a promise you made to every person who will appear before you, including the powerful and powerless, the articulate and those who struggle to articulate their case. Every judicial decision that you make from this point onwards must be capable of being reconciled with that promise."
Justice Gwaunza reminded the judges that their judiciary authority is derived from the people as enshrined in Section 162 of the Constitution.
She urged the judges to maintain high disciplinary and professional standards beyond the courtroom.
"Your conduct in your personal and professional interactions, your associations, your use of social media, your treatment of staff, your management of conflict of interest and your conduct in public spaces can all affect confidence in the judicial office,"said the Chief Justice.
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She said the new judges bring an "unusually rich diversity of professional backgrounds" which should be harnessed to enhance the justice service delivery system.
"Among you are those who served in the magistracy, the registries of our courts, institutions concerned with the enforcement of court processes, public legal practice, private practice and corporate or institutional legal practice and that diversity is an asset."
Gwaunza said the challenge was to use the different experiences together within a common judicial culture founded upon the Constitution, the law, integrity, competence and service.
