Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe 2013, as amended to 2023
Composition and Appointment
  • English

    (1) A person is qualified for appointment as a judge of the Constitutional Court if he or she is a Zimbabwean citizen, is at least forty years old and has a sound knowledge of constitutional law and, in addition, possesses one of the following qualifications—
    (a) he or she has been a judge of a court with unlimited jurisdiction in civil or criminal matters in a country in which the common law is Roman-Dutch or English, and English is an officially recognised language; or
    (b) for at least twelve years, whether continuously or not, he or she has been qualified to practise as a legal practitioner—
    (i) in Zimbabwe; or
    (ii) in a country in which the common law is Roman-Dutch or English and English is an officially recognised language;
    and is currently so qualified to practise.

    (2) To be appointed as a judge of the Constitutional Court a person must be a fit and proper person to hold office as a judge. (Sec. 177)

Composition and Appointment
  • English

    Appointments to the judiciary must reflect broadly the diversity and gender composition of Zimbabwe. (Sec. 184)

Jurisdiction and Access
  • English
    (1) The Constitutional Court—
    (a) is the highest court in all constitutional matters, and its decisions on those matters bind all other courts;
    (b) decides only constitutional matters and issues connected with decisions on constitutional matters, in particular references and applications under section 131(8)(b) and paragraph 9(2) of the Fifth Schedule3; and
    (c) makes the final decision whether a matter is a constitutional matter or whether an issue is connected with a decision on a constitutional matter.
    (2) Subject to this Constitution, only the Constitutional Court may—
    (a) advise on the constitutionality of any proposed legislation, but may do so only where the legislation concerned has been referred to it in terms of this Constitution;

    (d) determine whether Parliament or the President has failed to fulfil a constitutional obligation.
    (3) The Constitutional Court makes the final decision whether an Act of Parliament or conduct of the President or Parliament is constitutional, and must confirm any order of constitutional invalidity made by another court before that order has any force.
    (4) An Act of Parliament may provide for the exercise of jurisdiction by the Constitutional Court and for that purpose may confer the power to make rules of court.
    (5) Rules of the Constitutional Court must allow a person, when it is in the interests of justice and with or without leave of the Constitutional Court—
    (a) to bring a constitutional matter directly to the Constitutional Court;
    (b) to appeal directly to the Constitutional Court from any other court;
    (c) to appear as a friend of the court. (Sec. 167)
Jurisdiction and Access
  • English
    (1) The High Court—

    (c) may decide constitutional matters except those that only the Constitutional Court may decide;
    … (Sec. 171)
Jurisdiction and Access
  • English
    (1) Where a court makes an order concerning the constitutional invalidity of any law or any conduct of the President or Parliament, the order has no force unless it is confirmed by the Constitutional Court.
    (2) A court which makes an order of constitutional invalidity referred to in subsection (1) may grant a temporary interdict or other temporary relief to a party, or may adjourn the proceedings, pending a decision of the Constitutional Court on the validity of the law or conduct concerned.
    (3) Any person with a sufficient interest may appeal, or apply, directly to the Constitutional Court to confirm or vary an order concerning constitutional validity by a court in terms of subsection (1).
    (4) If a constitutional matter arises in any proceedings before a court, the person presiding over that court may and, if so requested by any party to the proceedings, must refer the matter to the Constitutional Court unless he or she considers the request is merely frivolous or vexatious.
    (5) An Act of Parliament or rules of court must provide for the reference to the Constitutional Court of an order concerning constitutional invalidity made in terms of subsection (1) by a court other than the Constitutional Court.
    … (Sec. 175)
1

Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe 2013, as amended to 2023 (English). According to Sec. 6(1): “The following languages, namely Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda and Xhosa, are the officially recognised languages of Zimbabwe.”

Links to all sites last visited 11 April 2024
2
Chapter 3 on Citizenship.
3
Fifth Schedule on Procedure as to Bills and Other Matters in Parliament (Sections 130 and 131).
4
Chapter 4 on Declaration of Rights.
5
Chapter 4 on Declaration of Rights.
6
Chapter 4 on Declaration of Rights.
7
Chapter 4 on Declaration of Rights.
8
Chapter 4 on Declaration of Rights.
9
Chapter 4 on Declaration of Rights.
10
Second Schedule on Limitations on Rights during Public Emergencies (Section 87).
11
Chapter 14 on Provincial and Local Government.
12
Chapter 4 on Declaration of Rights.
13
Chapter 4 on Declaration of Rights.