A staggering 1 383 murder cases were handled by the High Court in 2023 with southern region
provinces dominating, amid calls for members of the public to respect the sanctity of life as more
people continue to die from violent crimes.

Statistics from the Judicial Service Commission show that Midlands Province was the bloodiest
as it accounted for 379 of handled murder cases, followed by Matabeleland South at 223 and
Bulawayo at 168.

On position four is Mashonaland West with 151 cases followed by Harare at 143, Manicaland at
107, Masvingo at 81, and Mashonaland Central at 63. Matabeleland North Province had the least
murder cases at 23, followed by Mashonaland East with 45.

The statistics were revealed by Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza during the official
opening of the 2024 legal year at the Bulawayo High Court last week.

She said 90 722 criminal cases were received by the courts during the year 2023.

-Chronicle/Times Reporters