A High Court judge in Zimbabwe is under formal investigation by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) after a married man submitted alleged flirtatious WhatsApp messages exchanged between the judge and his wife, a court clerk.
The complaint concerns Justice Pisirayi Kwenda of the Harare High Court. The matter is being reviewed by the JSC, which is chaired by Luke Malaba.
According to reports, the husband of the court clerk accessed the messages on his wife’s phone and forwarded screenshots of the conversation to the commission. The oversight body is now assessing whether the exchange amounts to misconduct under the judicial code of conduct.
The reported conversation began with the judge writing, “I miss you.” The clerk replied, “Really?” before their discussion shifted to work schedules. Referring to an upcoming case, the judge wrote in Shona, “Ne case yembudzi iyoyi (With this goat case),” an apparent reference to a recent high-profile fraud trial involving a government goat tender.
The clerk responded, “Yaa pange paipa, I hope tools down now.” The judge then wrote, “..and tools in,” followed by a “see no evil” monkey emoji. The clerk replied, “Kkk in where?”
The exchange is said to have occurred shortly after Justice Kwenda sentenced businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu on 8 December 2025 to prison terms in connection with fraud involving an US$88 million agriculture ministry goat supply contract.
In his response to the JSC, legal sources say Justice Kwenda argued that the messages were unlawfully obtained, focusing his defence on an alleged breach of privacy. The court clerk has reportedly told the commission that there was no physical relationship between her and the judge.
The JSC is now tasked with determining whether the communication violated judicial ethical standards. Chief Justice Malaba is expected to make a final determination regarding any disciplinary action. JSC spokesperson Daniel Nemukuyu declined to comment on the matter when contacted on 7 February 2026, while the complainant also said he had no comment.
The development has drawn comparisons to a 2021 judicial scandal that led to the removal of Judge Thompson Mabhikwa. In that case, a personal relationship with a court clerk escalated into controversy after private images were circulated, ultimately resulting in disciplinary proceedings and his dismissal from the bench.
