The Office of the Attorney-General of Zimbabwe (AG) falls under the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of Zimbabwe. In November 2013, the prosecuting and government advisory roles of the Attorney-General were split under the new Constitution. The Attorney-General at that time, Johannes Tomana, became Prosecutor-General.[1] The Attorney-General is the chief legal advisor of the government of Zimbabwe and also sits as a member of the Senate.
The current Attorney-General since 2023 is Virginia Mabiza, the first woman to hold the position.[2][3]
History
editAhmed Ebrahim, appointed by Prime Minister Robert Mugabe, was the first Attorney-General of Zimbabwe.[4]
In November 2013, the position was dissolved and replaced by the Prosecutor General of Zimbabwe. In February 2015, the office of Attorney-General was revived alongside the Prosecutor-General.[5]
List of attorneys-general
edit| No. | Name | Took office | Left office | Party | Appointed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ahmed Ebrahim | 1980 | 1982 | ZANU–PF | Canaan Banana |
| 2 | Godfrey Chidyausiku | 1982 | 1989 | ZANU–PF | |
| 3 | Patrick Chinamasa | 26 April 1989[6] | 2000 | ZANU–PF | Robert Mugabe |
| 4 | Andrew Chigovera | July 2000 | April 2003 | ZANU–PF | |
| – | Bharat Patel Acting |
April 2003 | 2006 | ||
| 5 | Sobusa Gula-Ndebele | 2006 | 15 December 2007 | ZANU–PF | |
| – | Bharat Patel Acting |
May 2008 | December 2008 | ||
| 6 | Johannes Tomana | 3 March 2009 | November 2013 | ZANU–PF | |
| In November 2013, the office of Attorney-General was dissolved and replaced by the Prosecutor-General. In February 2015, the office of Attorney General was revived. | |||||
| 7 | Prince Machaya | February 2015 | October 2023 | ZANU–PF | |
| Emmerson Mnangagwa | |||||
| 8 | Virginia Mabhiza | November 2023 | |||
List of prosecutors-general
edit- Johannes Tomana, November 2013 – June 2017
- Ray Gaba (acting), June 2017 –
References
edit- ^ "Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs". Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- ^ Chingwere, Mukudzei (28 September 2023). "President appoints first female Attorney General". The Herald. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ Barwe, Reuben (6 November 2023). "New Attorney General Virginia Mabhiza sworn in". The Zimbabwean. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ Compagnon, Daniel (6 June 2011). A Predictable Tragedy: Robert Mugabe and the Collapse of Zimbabwe. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 155. ISBN 978-0812200041.
- ^ "Mugabe appoints new Attorney General". Nehanda Radio. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- ^ Assembly, Zimbabwe Parliament House of (6 July 1989). Parliamentary Debates. order of the House of Assembly. p. 101.