President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Elizabeth Gwaunza as Zimbabwe’s first female Chief Justice, marking a historic milestone 46 years after the country attained independence.
Her appointment follows the retirement of former Chief Justice Luke Malaba, who stepped down after reaching the constitutional retirement age.
Her appointment by President Emmerson Mnangagwa follows the retirement of Chief Justice Luke Malaba, who left office after reaching the constitutional age limit.
The announcement was made in an official government statement on Thursday by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Martin Rushwaya.
ALSO READ:Â Zimbabwe Opposition Defies Crackdown Over President’s Term Extension Plan
Gwaunza, 73, has served as Deputy Chief Justice since 2018, a role in which she also broke new ground as the first woman to hold the position.
Her legal career spans nearly four decades, beginning with her admission as a legal practitioner in 1987.
She became a High Court judge in 1998, was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2002, and later served as a judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
She was also one of the first two Black women to graduate with a law degree in Zimbabwe and co‑founded the Women and Law in Southern Africa Research Project, a regional initiative focused on advancing women’s rights and legal reform.
AP
