Herbert Chitepo School Of Ideology Training For Judges Cancelled

A controversial “training” workshop for judges, organised by the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) and ZANU PF’s Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology principal Ishmael Mada, Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) director-general Fulton Mangwanya, and President Mnangagwa’s chief secretary, has been cancelled following an outcry from judges and members of the legal profession.

 

The workshop, scheduled for July 4 and 5, was intended to familiarise judges with the “Integrated Results-Based Management System (IRBM) relating to the performance evaluation of judges,” according to letters sent to judicial officers.

 

However, in a memorandum dated 2 July 2025, the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) informed all heads of court that the training had been cancelled. The memo reads:

 

Reference is made to previous communication regarding the capacity-building training workshop on the Integrated Results-Based Management (IRBM) system that was planned for 4th and 5th July 2025 at Rainbow Towers Hotel, Harare.

 

The judiciary has been actively engaging with the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) regarding the most appropriate programme, training material, and resource persons for this performance management training initiative, consistent with the Constitutional requirement of the guarantee of Judicial Independence.

 

Following the initial consultations and continued discussions with OPC on the implementation framework, I wish to inform you that a decision has been taken to cancel the IRBM training, with the view of coming up with a programme content administered by the judiciary and suitable to the requirement for Judicial Independence.

 

You will be advised in due course of any new arrangements regarding the training.

 

All Heads of Courts are requested to inform judges accordingly. Pindula