High Court Faces Backlog as Divorce Applications Reach 3 989
High Court Faces Backlog as Divorce Applications Reach 3 989 – Divorce applications at the High Court of Zimbabwe rose by 27 percent in 2025, with 3 989 cases filed compared to 3 138 the previous year, according to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Despite the increase in filings, completed divorces declined by 15 percent, falling from 2 939 in 2024 to 2 493 in 2025, pointing to growing pressure on the courts.
Harare recorded the highest number of cases, with registrations rising to 2 386, while completed divorces dropped sharply to 1 393. Bulawayo also saw a significant increase in filings, rising to 1 052 cases, though completed cases declined.
Legal experts and counsellors attribute the trend to economic hardship, labour migration, changing gender dynamics and the weakening of traditional family support systems.
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Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission chairperson Ms Fungayi Jessie Majome said improved access to legal services has empowered more people, particularly women, to seek justice.
“There is now greater awareness in terms of legal remedies essential for empowering individuals to protect their rights,” she said as reported by The Herald.
However, marriage remains popular, with 11 160 marriages solemnised nationwide in 2025, suggesting that while many continue to marry, sustaining unions has become increasingly challenging.
