Anne-Marie Gowora

Gowora attended the University of Rhodesia (today the University of Zimbabwe), where she studied law in a multiracial class of 38 students, including whites, blacks, Coloureds, and Indians.[1] Among her former law classmates are prominent Harare lawyer George Chikumbirike, and judges Ishmael Chatikobo, Moses Chinhengo, and Jacqueline Pratt.[1] Gowora graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Laws.[1]

Before becoming a judge, Gowora spent much of her career working in the office of the Attorney General.[2] At the time she was appointed to the High Court bench, she was a partner in a private law firm.[3] In 2000, President Robert Mugabe appointed her to the High Court of Zimbabwe, along with three others, including Rita Makarau, her former law firm partner.[3] However, University of Bordeaux professor Daniel Compagnon described her as an "undeniably pro-ZANU–PF judge," noting that she received a farm in October 2005 as a result of Zimbabwe's land reform program.[2]

In November 2011, Gowora was named acting justice of the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe, with effect from 1 January 2012. Later that year, President Mugabe appointed her Supreme Court justice. She was sworn in, alongside High Court appointee Happias Zhou, on 2 May 2012 at State House in a ceremony attended by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Supreme Court Justice Rita Makarau, among other public officials.[4] Acting Justice Yunus Omerjee was also supposed to be sworn in that day, but he was out of the country.[4] In 2013, Gowora was appointed to the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe, which is part of the Supreme Court.

• List of first women lawyers and judges in Africa
• List of justices of the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe