Tendai Matunhu

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s appointment of Justices Nicholas Mathonsi and Charles Hungwe to the Supreme Court bench has been commended by lawyers who say they are well-deserved appointments.

Applauding the appointments, lawyer and MDC treasurer General David Coltart tweeted saying, “Hearty congratulations to my former legal colleague Nicholas Mathonsi on his elevation to the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe. This is thoroughly deserved and he will add enormous value to the Supreme Court. I also gratefully acknowledge that he was appointed by President Mnangagwa.”

University of Zimbabwe Law lecturer and MDC Secretary for Education, Arts, Sports and Culture, Fadzayi Mahere also commended the appointments saying, “Congratulations to Justice Hungwe and Justice Mathonsi on their elevation to the Supreme Court. Both are very competent and I wish them well.”

Lawyer and Director of the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa, Siphosami Malunga also tweeted commending the appointments saying, “The appointment of Justice Nicholas Mathonsi and Charles Hungwe to the Supreme Court by President Mnangagwa are excellent appointments. Very commendable and long overdue. Well done, congratulations to both exceptionally fine jurists.”

Lawyer, Cornel Nhlalo tweeted commending these appointments saying, “Justice Nicholas Mathonsi appointed to the Supreme Court bench. Well deserved.”

The late Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku in 2015 commended Mathonsi for being the best performer after he wrote 72 judgements of high quality and hailed him for good work. Hungwe was among the judges that Chief Justice Chidyausiku always commended.

Justice Hungwe was appointed to the High Court in 2000, whilst Justice Mathonsi was appointed High Court Judge in 2005. The two were among the five judges who were interviewed by the Judicial Service Commission recently to fill vacancies in the Supreme Court.

The two will be sworn in next week Tuesday.