Namibian judiciary pays tribute to judge Chinhengo

NAMIBIA’S Judicial Service Commission has paid tribute to Zimbabwean judge Moses Chinhengo after his death on Friday.

Chinhengo, who has served as an acting judge of appeal of Namibia’s Supreme Court and as an acting judge of the country’s High Court, was described as “a distinguished jurist” by chief justice Peter Shivute, chairperson of Namibia’s Judicial Service Commission (JSC), in a statement on Friday.

Chinhengo died at the age of 69 after a period of illness.

“Justice Chinhengo was a distinguished jurist and retired judge of the High Court of Zimbabwe whose legal career was marked by a principled commitment to justice and the rule of law,” Shivute states.

“Beyond his tenure in Zimbabwe, he lent his judicial expertise to the southern African region, serving with distinction as a judge of the High Court of Botswana and as an acting judge of appeal of the Court of Appeal of Lesotho,” Shivute recounts.

In Namibia, Chinhengo served as an acting judge of appeal of the Supreme Court during 2021 and as an acting judge of the High Court from September 2023 until July this
year.

As an acting judge of the High Court, Chinhengo presided over proceedings in the Fishrot fraud, corruption and racketeering case from September 2023 until it was announced in July this year that he had decided for personal reasons to step down from the matter.

Chinhengo also lectured at the University of Zimbabwe and served as a commissioner of the International Commission of Jurists, “reflecting his dedication to advancing human rights and the sound administration of justice”, Shivute notes.

The chief justice also states: “His vast knowledge and seasoned judgement greatly enriched the Namibian judiciary; through considered reasoning and comparative insight, his service in both the Supreme Court and the High Court has left a lasting legacy that will guide Namibian jurisprudence for generations to come.”

The JSC and Namibia’s judiciary extend their condolences to Chinhengo’s wife, children and family, and also to the people of Zimbabwe, “who have lost a towering figure in their legal fraternity”, Shivute concludes.

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