By Zachary Gava
Harare, (New Ziana) — Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza has paid tribute to retired High Court Judge Gladys Mhuri for a distinguished career spanning more than four decades in the justice delivery system, describing her retirement as an occasion to celebrate a legacy of public service and dedication to the Judiciary.
Justice Mhuri was honoured at a farewell dinner organized by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in Harare on Friday following her retirement from the High Court Bench, where she served for six years.
Her judicial career began at the Labour Court, where she rose through the ranks to become Senior President, a position she held for more than 10 years before her appointment to the High Court in 2021.
Chief Justice Gwaunza said Justice Mhuri’s departure was not merely an occasion to bid farewell to a colleague, but an opportunity to reflect on her contribution to the administration of justice and the people of Zimbabwe.
“An occasion such as this is more than an opportunity to bid farewell. It allows us to celebrate a journey, to recognize service rendered and to reflect upon the contribution that an individual has made to the administration of justice and, more broadly, to the people whom that institution exists to serve,” she said.
The Chief Justice also revealed a personal connection with Justice Mhuri, saying the two had known each other since 1986 when they were fellow students in the Bachelor of Laws class at the University of Zimbabwe.
She said it was humbling to look back nearly four decades later and see how their professional journeys had unfolded.
“Neither of us could have imagined that some four decades later I would be standing here as Chief Justice, delivering farewell remarks on the retirement of a former classmate from the High Court Bench, or that she would go on to embark upon such an illustrious judicial career,” Gwaunza said.
Justice Mhuri’s career in the justice sector stretches back to 1981 when she served as an Assistant Legal Officer in the Legal Department of the Lusaka Urban District Council before returning to Zimbabwe in 1983 to join the Ministry of Justice as a Public Prosecutor.
She subsequently rose through the prosecutorial ranks, eventually serving as Director of Public Prosecutions in 1999, with responsibility for criminal prosecutions nationally, legal advice and other high-level aspects of the administration of criminal justice.
Gwaunza said Justice Mhuri’s extensive experience across different areas of the justice system had given her a unique institutional perspective, particularly through her leadership of the Labour Court and later service on the High Court Bench.
She said Justice Mhuri’s final years on the Bench, particularly in the Family Division, placed her at the centre of disputes involving issues such as marriage, inheritance, children, maintenance and family property.
“Behind every file, however technical the legal question may initially appear, is a person, a family, an institution or a community seeking the determination of a real dispute,” she said.
Gwaunza said judicial service should not be measured solely through judgments delivered, but also through the relationships built, colleagues supported and institutional responsibilities carried over the years.
She also paid tribute to the retired judge’s family for supporting her through the demands of judicial office.
“The family does not take the judicial oath, but it inevitably shares some of the demands that flow from it,” she said, thanking the Mhuri family for its support, patience and understanding throughout her years of service.
As Justice Mhuri begins retirement, Gwaunza said the former judge could now enjoy a different pace of life away from the demands of the court roll.
The Chief Justice also announced a special gesture of appreciation from the Judicial Service Commission — a 5KVA solar system presented to Justice Mhuri in recognition of her years of service.
“Justice Mhuri, please accept this gift with our sincere appreciation,” Gwaunza said.
Responding to the tributes, Justice Mhuri expressed gratitude to her colleagues, family and all those who supported her throughout her career.
She said her long journey within the justice system had been made easier by the people she worked with and the support she received both professionally and at home.
“I will be forever grateful to my colleagues. I am humbled for having served in the judicial system with you. I thank everyone I worked with; you made my work easier and enjoyable,” she said.
Justice Mhuri also paid tribute to her family for standing by her through the demanding responsibilities associated with judicial office.
“I also thank my supportive family, which understood my duties,” she said.
Reflecting on the farewell gathering, she expressed appreciation to everyone who had taken time to join her in marking the end of her judicial career.
“All of you here with me today to celebrate my retirement, may you be blessed. Thank you,” Justice Mhuri said.
Her retirement marks the close of a judicial career that traversed prosecution, the Labour Court and the High Court, culminating in six years on the High Court Bench.
For the Judiciary, Friday’s farewell provided an opportunity not only to mark the end of Justice Mhuri’s time on the Bench, but also to recognize a career that has formed part of Zimbabwe’s justice delivery system for decades.
New Ziana
