Magistrates Court (Provinces) (Amendment) Notice, 2024 (No. 2)
Harare's magistrates court province is split in two — Harare North and Harare South — redrawing which court hears cases from Chitungwiza, Epworth, Mabvuku and other areas.
The President has split the Harare magisterial province into two. The old item 9 in the First Schedule to the Magistrates Court (Provinces) Notice, 1990 is repealed and replaced by two entries.
Harare North now comprises Harare North/Borrowdale, Highfield, Mabvuku/Tafara and Chinamhora.
Harare South comprises Harare Central, Harare South/Waterfalls, Ruwa/Epworth, Chitungwiza, Seke and Beatrice.
Magisterial provinces determine which court has jurisdiction over a given area, so litigants, prosecutors and legal practitioners in the affected districts need to check which of the two provinces their matter now falls into. The change amends the 1990 notice (S.I. 183 of 1990) as previously amended by S.I. 199 of 1996.
What changed
- The single Harare magisterial province is replaced by two: Harare North and Harare South
- Harare North covers Harare North/Borrowdale, Highfield, Mabvuku/Tafara and Chinamhora
- Harare South covers Harare Central, Harare South/Waterfalls, Ruwa/Epworth, Chitungwiza, Seke and Beatrice
Who this affects
- magistrates and court staff in Harare
- legal practitioners filing in Harare magistrates courts
- prosecutors and police in Chitungwiza, Epworth, Mabvuku and Highfield
- litigants in the Harare metropolitan area
Plain-language summary — not legal advice. Always read the full instrument.