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1113: Chief Justice Chidyausiku and fellow judges leave, while officials present also follow suit marking the end to proceedings here.

Father Fidelis Mukonori prays for the 2014 legal year-Pic by Farai Kuvirimirwa

1103: 1102: Chief Justice Chidyausiku says the number of cases in each court are available on the website in case of references by members of the public. Challenges remain and they include underfunding and unattractive conditions for all members of the judicial service. He says it is unconstitutional to reduce the conditions of service while members are still in service. He hails stakeholders for assisting in the construction of four courts in the country.

He declares the 2014 legal year open.

1058: He says the unimproved conditions of service has affected the magistrates with the recruitment freeze also playing a role.

1056: At the Administrative Court, he says the number of cases has been dwindling and the courts is manned by one judge. 128 cases were recorded for the entire 2013. At the Magistrates Court, he commends chief magistrate for reducing the backlog from 45 000 cases to 10 000 by November 2013. The magistrates courts are now dealing with current cases brought in during the course of the year.

1052: He castigates arbitral awards which he says sometimes are outrageous saying the arbitrators require extensive knowledge on the field despite being appointed by Government. He says efforts will be made to reduce backlogs.

1050: He says the imbalance of inflow and outflow of cases at the High Court is a cause for concern, a situation that prevails also at the Labour Court even though there were four additional judges it was too early to judge the impact of the addition. He says the structure of Labour Court contributes to the uneven flow of cases and backlogs and they need revisiting at policy level.

1046: He says the Supreme Court is the final court of appeal in non constitutional matter saying there were 233 appeals at the beginning of 2013. He says a total of 522 appeals were recorded in 2013. He says it is achievable to clear the backlog and by mid year the court would be dealing with current matters.

1042: He says it is too early to judge performance of the Constitutional Court because there are no previous years to use in comparison. He says the provisions of the court have not been used to full use.

1039: He says the aim is for all constitutional matters be addressed with 81 matters being received in 2013. The influx of cases was inflated by the elections.

1037: He says the non prosecution of constitutional matter has created backlogs and has to be addressed immediately.

1035: The theme for the year is “Effective Service Delivery”

1034: He says the new constitution which he says created a stand alone Constitutional Court as the highest court in the land and the change in the structure of the courts has no negative effects on service delivery.

1032: Chief Justice Chidyausiku said Judicial authority is derived from the people of Zimbabwe hailing the new constitution saying it is vital for justice delivery.

Chief Justice Chidyausiku

1015: Chief Justice Chidyausiku has arrived.

Chief Justice Chidyausiku inspects the guard of honour-Pic by Farai Kuvirimirwa

1014: ZEC chairperson Justice Rita Makarau, former Minister for Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Eric Matinenga, Chief Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe and Law Society of Zimbabwe president Lloyd Mhishi are in attendance.

Minister of Justice and Parliamentary Affairs sitting with permanent secretary Virgina Mabhiza-Pic by Farai Kuvirimirwa

1001: Members of the legal fraternity, judiciary, civil society, diplomatic corps and high ranking Government officials including Minister of Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Emmerson Mnangagwa are at the High Court in Harare for the official opening of the 2014 legal year.