News / Local
Senior Bulawayo magistrates suspended
21 Mar 2015 at 04:14hrs | Views
TWO senior Bulawayo magistrates have been suspended - one for alleged corruption and the other for drinking beer during working hours.
Chief Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe, on a visit to Bulawayo yesterday, confirmed the suspensions of regional magistrate Sikhumbuzo Nyathi, who is accused of trying to bribe a fellow magistrate to induce her to pass a favourable judgment, and provincial magistrate Singandu Jele for missing court sessions while drinking beer.
"I can confirm that two magistrates have been suspended pending hearings and they will only report to work after their matters are finalised," Guvamombe told The Chronicle.
"Magistrate Nyathi allegedly acted in a corrupt way and EcoCashed a Lupane-based magistrate $305 to influence her judgment against a certain Clement Wanda," said chief magistrate Guvamombe.
He said his office got wind of Nyathi's alleged corruption through a whistle-blower, leading to his suspension.
"Nyathi is yet to go for a hearing and he will not be reporting for work until his matter is finalised."
The Chronicle understands the case involved a bar fight between a detective from the Criminal Investigations Department and Wanda, believed to be a Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) agent.
Wanda was eventually convicted, jailed for six months and fined $300 by Aelene Munamati, the magistrate at the centre of the investigation.
The Chief Magistrate said Jele allegedly missed a court session while drinking beer in his office.
"Magistrate Jele has been charged with misconduct as he used to drink alcohol during working hours. He would miss court while drinking and he too will resume work after investigations are completed," he added.
Nyathi recently made headlines for issuing a warrant of arrest against a prosecutor for failing to turn up for a case. Paida Zengeni Nyathi was on leave, but the magistrate appeared impatient to get the case concluded as he ordered her arrest.
Last year, Nyathi threatened court reporters in the middle of a judgment, claiming that they had misquoted him.
Last night, Nyathi said he had not been cleared to speak to the media. But colleagues said he was going to fight the allegations.
"He thinks Munamati is a reluctant witness in this matter and other forces are at play. He says Munamati borrowed the money, as she has done before, and will prove it at the hearing," said a colleague.
Jele was not at work yesterday and his mobile phone was unreachable.
Chief Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe, on a visit to Bulawayo yesterday, confirmed the suspensions of regional magistrate Sikhumbuzo Nyathi, who is accused of trying to bribe a fellow magistrate to induce her to pass a favourable judgment, and provincial magistrate Singandu Jele for missing court sessions while drinking beer.
"I can confirm that two magistrates have been suspended pending hearings and they will only report to work after their matters are finalised," Guvamombe told The Chronicle.
"Magistrate Nyathi allegedly acted in a corrupt way and EcoCashed a Lupane-based magistrate $305 to influence her judgment against a certain Clement Wanda," said chief magistrate Guvamombe.
He said his office got wind of Nyathi's alleged corruption through a whistle-blower, leading to his suspension.
"Nyathi is yet to go for a hearing and he will not be reporting for work until his matter is finalised."
The Chronicle understands the case involved a bar fight between a detective from the Criminal Investigations Department and Wanda, believed to be a Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) agent.
Wanda was eventually convicted, jailed for six months and fined $300 by Aelene Munamati, the magistrate at the centre of the investigation.
The Chief Magistrate said Jele allegedly missed a court session while drinking beer in his office.
"Magistrate Jele has been charged with misconduct as he used to drink alcohol during working hours. He would miss court while drinking and he too will resume work after investigations are completed," he added.
Nyathi recently made headlines for issuing a warrant of arrest against a prosecutor for failing to turn up for a case. Paida Zengeni Nyathi was on leave, but the magistrate appeared impatient to get the case concluded as he ordered her arrest.
Last year, Nyathi threatened court reporters in the middle of a judgment, claiming that they had misquoted him.
Last night, Nyathi said he had not been cleared to speak to the media. But colleagues said he was going to fight the allegations.
"He thinks Munamati is a reluctant witness in this matter and other forces are at play. He says Munamati borrowed the money, as she has done before, and will prove it at the hearing," said a colleague.
Jele was not at work yesterday and his mobile phone was unreachable.
Source - chronicle
