Cabinet approves new bill to alter retirement age for judges.

Cabinet has just approved a new bill placing the retirement age for the Chief justice,his deputy and judges of the Supreme court and the Constitutional court at 75. The bill states that the selected group will hold office until the age of 70 and thereafter their contracts can be renewed annually upon production of a medical fitness certificate for a period not excedding five years. The normal retirement age for civil servants in Zimbabwe is 65.

The bill also states that judges of the High court can retire at 70. The announcement was made by the minister of Information, publicity and broadcasting services Monica Mutsvangwa. The bill has other provisions such as that the appointment of the Public Protector and his deputy must be done by the president in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission as well as the appointment of the Prosecutor General.