Newly appointed magistrates (standing) pose for a group photo with Chief Magistrate Mushure (seated third from left) at the Harare Magistrates Court on 4 August 2023.
By Godwin Makoho
As the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) strengthens its resolve to enhance access to justice in the country, fifteen magistrates were sworn in at a colorful ceremony held at the Harare Magistrates Court Thursday morning.
Chief Magistrate Faith Mushure presided over the ceremony and expressed confidence that the 15 judicial officers will play a crucial role in helping the JSC deliver its Constitutional mandate.
The magistrates will soon be deployed to provincial courts across the country to cover already operational courts as well as the newly built ones.
Speaking to journalists at the ceremony, Chief Magistrate Mushure said the new magistrates, who are drawn from various professions, will help clear the backlog of cases and ultimately improve justice delivery in the country.
“Today we swore into office 15 magistrates comprising six males and nine females. I think in recent history we have sworn the largest group of male magistrates. The group brings our total magistrates to 229 magistrates comprising 87 males and 142 female magistrates.
“They have been drawn from a cross section of professions meant to strengthen the magisterial bench. We have five of the appointees coming from the private practice. They were legal practitioners in private practice and eight have been drawn from the JSC. They were either court interpreters, judge assistant or researchers.
“One is coming from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and another from the Zimbabwe Republic Police. We have already deployed them to beef up our staff like in Bikita, Mberengwa, Chipinge, Kezi, Nyanga and Karoi,” said Chief Magistrate Mushure.
According to Mrs Mushure, the plan is that the magistrates sworn in will eat into the backlog and ensure that the work is dealt with expeditiously as expected by the Constitution.
For the first half of the year 2023, the regional magistrates court received 4 285 cases and cleared 4 339 cases while the provincial magistrates courts started the year with a backlog of 7 832 and received 47 381 cases. A total of 47 847 were dealt with, leaving a backlog of 7 356 cases.
The Head of Magistrates revealed that Chikombedzi Magistrates court which will be opened on September 1, will be manned by one of the newly appointed magistrates.
When asked for the preparedness of the courts to deal with politically motivated violence as the nation heads into an election, she said the justice system was ready for the plebiscite as measures have already been put in place.
“With regards to political violence and intimidation, I’m sure you will be aware that on 2 June 2023, the Chief Justice, acting in terms of section 133 (j)(3) of the Electoral Act, designated 75 provincial magistrates to deal with cases of politically motivated violence and intimidation. These magistrates are based at all 58 operational courts throughout Zimbabwe,” she said.
Zimbabwe will be holding harmonized elections on August 23 and the judiciary is expected to play a pivotal role by delivering justice in all political cases brought before the courts to ensure that the country conducts a credible election as well as achieve peace and harmony.
The magistrates sworn in are ; Chikura Isaac, Dzivanyika Catherine Makaita, Fazilahmed Hannah Iman Faith, Gwatida Moly, Jawona Ivy, Makunike Titus, Manyande Ropafadzo Sanganiso, Mukurunge Tatenda, Muronzi Tinofireyi, Mutimodhlo Shumirai, Nyambiya Tafadzwa Precious, Sangarwe Kudakwashe, Tanyanyiwa Princess Anesu, Verenga Edward and Zishiri Tawedzerwa Batiraishe.
