Zimbabwe Judicial Service Commission: Disciplinary Proceedings Against Justice Chiweshe

HARARE – Polygamous rapist Munyaradzi Kereke has filed a sensational complaint against Supreme Court judge of appeal George Mutandwa Chiweshe, accusing him of enjoying the company of two of his wives while he was serving a 10-year jail sentence. The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has since initiated disciplinary proceedings against the judge, which could ultimately lead to his removal from the bench. Kereke served the sentence for raping his 14-year-old niece, with Chiweshe sitting on a three-judge Supreme Court bench that ultimately dismissed his appeal against his conviction and sentence. He now accuses the judge of repeated impropriety. The allegations are contained in an urgent High Court application by Chiweshe seeking to stop a JSC disciplinary hearing set for September 9. He argues that a committee investigating Kereke’s allegations has expanded the case against him beyond what Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza originally referred for investigation. Chiweshe filed the urgent chamber application on September 4, together with a separate application for review, asking the court to preserve the status quo and stay “the entire disciplinary process” pending determination of the review. The JSC is cited as first respondent, while Justice Anne Mary Gowora, who chairs the disciplinary committee, is cited in her official capacity as second respondent. The disciplinary process stems from a complaint filed by Kereke in June. On July 30, 2026, Gwaunza wrote to Gowora informing her that, having considered Kereke’s complaint and Chiweshe’s response, she had “formed the opinion that the alleged conduct may have violated section 7(1) of the Judicial Service (Code of Ethics) Regulations, 2012” and was constituting a committee to investigate. The terms of reference confined the inquiry to whether, while Kereke’s criminal appeal was pending before the Supreme Court, Chiweshe “maintained private contact and engaged in financial or business dealings” with Kereke or his associates. The inquiry covered four matters: a motor vehicle transaction; requests for or receipt of money; the provision of company documents; and discussions concerning a gold-mining interest. The committee, initially comprising Gowora, Justice Benjamin Hlatshwayo and Justice Faith Mushure, was reconstituted on August 4, with Justice Bharat Patel replacing Mushure. Gwaunza’s letter of reconstitution stated that “the terms of reference and mandate communicated in my letter dated July 30, 2026, remain unchanged.” Kereke’s underlying complaint – a 10-page “formal report” dated June 18, 2026, and addressed jointly to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the chief justice – sets out the allegations in far more graphic terms than the JSC’s later notice. It is captioned a report of “gross misconduct and criminal abuse of duty” and is lodged not only against Chiweshe but also against two of his fellow appeal judges, Samuel Kudya and Tendai Uchena, who sat with him on Kereke’s criminal appeal. Only Chiweshe was referred by the Chief Justice for disciplinary investigation. The report does not explain, and the papers before the court do not show, what became of the allegations against Kudya and Uchena. Kereke says he delayed filing the report until after his release “out of strategic necessity” to ensure that he “remained unharmed whilst he was still serving in prison”. He was convicted of rape, and the three judges dismissed his appeal on May 31, 2024, sending him back to prison to complete his 10-year sentence, which he finished serving on January 8, 2026. His narrative alleges that, while the appeal was still pending, Chiweshe told him directly: “Justices of Appeal Tendai Uchena, Samuel Kudya and myself we have looked at your appeal and have all agreed… that your conviction by the lower courts was wrongful. But my colleagues and I we are saying to you Kereke what are you going to do for us so we take you off the hook?” Kereke says he initially refused, but alleges that in 2022 Chiwesh