Magistrate probed for abuse of office

A Masvingo magistrate, Jabulani Mzinyathi, is under investigation from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for alleged corruption and abuse of office.

Chief magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe told The Zimbabwe Mail on Thursday that Mzinyathi is being investigated following a complaint by management of The Masvingo Mirror, a weekly provincial newspaper based in Masvingo, for allegedly interfering in a litigation case between the media outlet and a former stringer of the publication.

"We have received a complaint from The Masvingo Mirror newspaper management who are alleging that Mzinyathi is interfering with litigation involving the newspaper. The newspaper is also alleging that the magistrate is involved in allegations of corruption and has also been communicating on Facebook litigation issues between the media outlet and an individual based in Masvingo," said Guvamombe.

Guvamombe also revealed that Mzinyathi, who was a member of Masvingo Drama Circle, had been directed to withdraw his membership.

"From other allegations raised by the newspaper, the magistrate is alleged to have uttered statements at Masvingo Drama Circle where he was a member, which referred to  the litigation. We have instructed him to withdraw forthwith his membership there as we investigate him," said Guvamombe.

Guvamombe dismissed reports that Mzinyathi has been demoted following the allegations.

"We would like to make it clear that the magistrate in question has not been demoted. Our policy in JSC is to rotate magistrates wherever possible and in this instance, Mzinyathi was transferred from the Masvingo civil court to the criminal court in the same town.

"In fact we transferred him well before these allegations were raised.

"As we speak, we have already instituted some investigations and we have tasked the provincial magistrate in Masvingo to furnish us with more information on the matter,"said Guvamombe.

Mzinyathi is alleged to have posted on his Facebook page boasting the newspaper could publish whatever it wanted, but he would retaliate.

Masvingo Mirror general manager Nkulumani Mlambo said they were waiting for results of investigations from JSC.

"The magistrate's messages on Facebook spoke volumes about the magistrate's conduct. We have submitted our complaint to the chief magistrate and we are eagerly waiting to hear the outcome," Mlambo.