Section 185: Oath of office
Constitution of Zimbabwe
(1) Before the Chief Justice or Deputy Chief Justice assumes office, he or she must take, before the President or a person authorised by the President, the judicial oath in the form set out in the Third Schedule.
(2) Before a judge, other than the Chief Justice or Deputy Chief Justice, assumes office, he or she must take, before the Chief Justice or the next most senior judge available, the judicial oath in the form set out in the Third Schedule.
(3) The Acts of Parliament under which magistrates and other members of the judiciary, other than judges, are appointed must prescribe the oath to be taken by those members of the judiciary.
Insight on Oath of Office
This section establishes a hierarchical swearing-in process that reflects the judiciary's structure. The Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice take their oath before the President (or designee), while other judges take theirs before the Chief Justice (or next senior judge). This arrangement symbolizes both judicial independence and the constitutional relationship between branches of government. For lower judicial officers, Parliament determines the oath requirements, allowing for appropriate customization based on different judicial roles.