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THE new magistrate Ms Rachel Rumbidzai Mukanga (left) raises her right hand while being sworn in by the Chief Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe (right) at Tredgold Building courts yesterday (Picture by Dennis Mudzamiri)

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
CHIEF Magistrate Mr Mishrod Guvamombe yesterday slammed corrupt judicial officers and warned the public to desist from influencing magistrates through bribes.

Mr Guvamombe, who was speaking at the swearing-in of a new magistrate, Ms Rachel Rumbidzai Mukanga (27), at the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Courts, said those caught on the wrong side of the law would be dealt with.

“Our stance against corruption is well documented. Never be tempted to make corrupt decisions and we are saying any magistrate who engages in corruption is not worth to be a judicial officer. If you are caught, all the years of toiling at university will come to naught, and in the same vein the litigating public must not tempt the new magistrates with bribes,” he said.

Mr Guvamombe said litigants must desist from using the complaints mechanism as a way of removing a magistrate from a case by making false allegations.

“While we welcome genuine complaints, litigants must not resort to administrative measures to solve their issues. There is always the review or appeal mechanism to follow in the event that one is dissatisfied with the procedure or outcome of his or her matter. Litigants must not cast aspersions on judicial officers as this demoralises a magistrate,” he said.

Mr Guvamombe commended under-staffed magistrates who are forced to work long hours to clear the backlog of cases.

Out of the authorised 250 magistrates, only 194 are employed. There are 56 vacancies due to the job freeze imposed by Treasury.

Last year two Bulawayo magistrates left the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in protest after they were redeployed to new stations. Mr Abednico Ndebele, who was based at the Western Commonage magistrate’s courts had been transferred to Esigodini while Ms Marylin Mutshina had been redeployed to Mutoko.

Mr Guvamombe urged the new magistrate to make decisions guided by law and not social standing, creed or colour.

The newly sworn magistrate holds a law degree from the Midlands State University (MSU). She joined the JSC in November last year as a trainee magistrate. Between July 2015 and October 2016, Ms Mukanga worked as a judge’s assistant at the Harare High Court. — @mashnets