Chief Justice Luke Malaba is reportedly refusing to go on leave ahead of his retirement, choosing instead to remain in office until his term expires.
Malaba is due to reach the retirement age of 75 in May, when he is expected to step down. He was supposed to begin his retirement leave earlier this month, but reports say he has opted to stay on, fully aware that going on leave would mark the end of his tenure.
On Monday, Malaba presided over the official opening of the 2026 Legal Year in Harare.
Supreme Court judge Justice Rita Makarau had reportedly been lined up to replace him as Chief Justice and was expected to preside over the event instead.
In May 2021, President Emmerson Mnangagwa extended Malaba’s tenure by five years following controversial constitutional changes.
Using its majority in the National Assembly, ZANU-PF amended the law to raise the retirement age of senior judges to 75, provided they could prove they were in good health.
At the time, Malaba had turned 70, but the changes allowed him to remain in office for a further five years.
The Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet later said Mnangagwa had accepted Malaba’s medical report, which confirmed that he had the mental and physical fitness to continue serving as Chief Justice.
More: NewsDay
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