Namibia Appoints High Court Judges from Zimbabwe and Botswana

The Office of the Judiciary on Monday announced the appointments of former High Court judges from Botswana and Zimbabwe, Gabriel Komboni and James Devittie.

Also, former High Court judge Esi Schimming-Chase was sworn in as a permanent judge of the Supreme Court, becoming the first woman to hold such a position in Namibia.

Gabriel Komboni was appointed on a two-year-and-five-month contract, while James Devittie’s contract runs for three years, both effective from the start of March.

Schimming-Chase has served as a High Court judge since April 2021, with previous stints as an acting High Court judge in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2020, and as an acting Supreme Court judge over the past three years.

Chief Justice Peter Shivute, who administered the oath of office, noted that Namibia’s post-independence judiciary initially had low female representation. “Through deliberate efforts, gender representation has improved significantly, particularly in the lower courts and the High Court,” he said.