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Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
THE Judicial Service Commission has embarked on a massive redeployment exercise with 33 magistrates being transferred as it scales up anti-graft efforts.

The exercise is mainly targeting magistrates in border and mining towns and those that have overstayed at their stations.

Chief Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe yesterday confirmed the transfers and emphasised that the redeployment was a routine exercise in the JSC.

“The transfers are a routine exercise meant to strengthen operations within the system. Those that have been transferred have never been convicted or should not be perceived to be corrupt.

The transfers will be conducted in batches due to financial challenges to cater for relocation allowances,” said Mr Guvamombe.

He said some of the transfers are effective on November 1, December 1 and the final on January 1 next year.

“By November 1, we will have transferred 12 magistrates. Another batch of 12 will move by December 1 while the last group of nine will be at their new stations by January 1 next year,” said Mr Guvamombe.

He said overstaying at one station may end up compromising magistrates and the routine transfers are necessary to fight the scourge of corruption.
From Bulawayo, provincial magistrate Ms Maryln Mutshina will be moving to Mutoko while West Commonage Court resident magistrate Mr Abednico Ndebele is moving to Esigodini as resident magistrate.

Mr Lungile Ncube from Esigodini will replace Ndebele as resident magistrate at Western Commonage Courts in January next year.
Mr E Sibanda from Mutoko will replace Ms Mutshina.

Gwanda magistrate Mrs Sheila Nazombe swaps with Karoi magistrate Mr Obedience Matare. Their transfer is effective in January next year.
Two Plumtree magistrates redeployed are Mr Livard Philemon and Mr Gideon Ruvetsa.

Mr Philemon has been moved to Kwekwe as resident magistrate with Mr Taurai Manwere from Kwekwe taking over from Philemon as the Plumtree resident magistrate on November 1.

Mr Ruvetsa moves to Harare with Mr Joshua Mawere, who was sworn in this year, filling his position.

Mr Innocent Bepura from Beitbridge has been transferred to Mutare swapping with Mrs Sekai Chiwundura.

Beitbridge resident magistrate Mrs Gloria Takundwa has been redeployed to Nyanga as resident magistrate swapping with Mutare resident magistrate Mr Langton Mukwengi.

Mr Peter Madiba from Zvishavane had been transferred to Masvingo with Ms Lyn Manyika replacing him from Masvingo.

Other redeployed magistrates are from Mashonaland and Harare provinces.

Mr Guvamombe encouraged the affected magistrates to complete their partly heard matters before they move to their new stations.

The transfers by the JSC come a few days after the Department of Immigration redeployed 157 officers from ports of entry across the country in compliance with the Government’s directive to transfer all those who have stayed at their stations for more than five years.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has redeployed 500 police officers from Beitbridge to various stations across the country, while the Judicial   Service Commission has also initiated the same process.