Story by Mercy Bofu-Matinha
FORMER High Court Judge, Justice Moses Hungwe Chinhengo, who passed away on September 19, was laid to rest at his Zvinyaningwe farm in Masvingo this Tuesday under a state-assisted funeral, with the nation’s legal and political leadership paying tribute to a jurist whose influence extended well beyond Zimbabwe.
The burial drew together members of the judiciary, government officials, the legal fraternity, family, and friends, who described the late Justice Chinhengo as both a towering legal mind and a family man of rare warmth.
“Justice Chinhengo’s influence extended far beyond Zimbabwe’s borders. He was a respected jurist throughout Southern Africa, serving as a judge in Botswana and acting in judicial capacities in both Lesotho and Namibia. His regional work demonstrated his belief in a shared legal community and his dedication to fostering justice across the continent,” Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable Ezra Chadzamira noted.
Representing Chief Justice Luke Malaba, Constitutional Court Judge Justice Rita Makarau described the late jurist as a mentor and role model who never lost touch with the profession even after his resignation from the Judicial Service Commission.
“Justice Chinhengo resigned from the Judicial Service Commission in 2004, and from then on, he maintained a good relationship with us till the time of his death. He was a role model to the legal fraternity, a great educator, a mentor, a motivator, and a great ambassador for his country.”
Chief Justices from Botswana and Namibia, represented at the burial, also paid tribute to a principled man of the law.
“Justice Chinhengo was a family man. He loved and was committed to his family. As the patriarch of the Chinhengo-Muguti family, he showed a lot of love to his many nephews and nieces. They all loved their Sekuru. He was indeed very special to them. The judge was a people’s person who made many friends in the course of his life,” Family representative, Professor Godfrey Muguti said.
Justice Chinhengo was also a family unifier whose warmth was felt beyond the courtroom.
“To the world, he was a judge, but to us, he was a father, a friend, and a source of inspiration,” daughter Shingirayi Chinhengo stated.
Justice Chinhengo was appointed to the High Court of Zimbabwe in February 1996, serving until 2004 before extending his judicial service to Botswana, Lesotho, and Namibia.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs Chinhengo, four children, and grandchildren.
