Source: JSC appoints 18 magistrates for special courts – DailyNews Live
STAFF WRITER 8 July 2018
HARARE – The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has designated 18
magistrates to preside over special courts that will administer justice in
cases involving politically-motivated violence and intimidation.
JSC, Chief Justice Luke Malaba, on Friday gazetted the names of the
magistrates through General Notice 431 of 2018.
“It is hereby notified that the Judicial Service Commission has, in terms
of section 133L(3) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13), designated the
magistrates…to try cases of politically motivated violence and
intimidation in the provinces under which their names appear before,
during and after the harmonised elections for President, Members of the
National Assembly and councillors scheduled to take place on Monday 30th
July 2018,” readspart of the notice.
In Harare, the JSC appointed Nyasha Vitorini, RuramaiChitumbura,
KudzanayiZhove, Elizabeth Magomore, YeukaiChigodora, Blessing Murwisi and
Nyasha Marufu to preside over the cases.
In Matabeleland North, Sithembiso Ncube, Nyaradzo Ringisai, Franklin
Mkwamanzi, Tancy Dube, Stephen Ndlovu and Lungile Ncube complete the list
of names nominated by the JSC.
Two magistrates were designated for Manicaland, namely Innocent Bepura and
Lazarus Murendo.
Masvingo will also have two magistrates namely Takawira Mugabe and Purity
Gumbo, while Joshua Mawere will man the court in Matabeleland South.
In April, government announced the setting up of special courts to deal
with cases of political violence, as part of its drive to curtail unrest
and intimidation ahead of the first post-Robert Mugabe elections set for
July.
Past elections had been marred by violence against the opposition by
supporters of the 94-year-old Mugabe, who was removed in a de facto
military coup in November.
This is the first time that such courts have been established and follows
new President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s pledge to hold a free and peaceful
vote.
Delivering a vote seen as free and fair is crucial to Zimbabwe’s efforts
to mend ties with the West and could help unlock foreign funding and
investment needed to revive the struggling economy.
As such, the JSC has been on the market to recruit 60 magistrates and
several interpreters to boost efficiency in the justice delivery system
and reduce the case backlog at lower courts.
It has since appointed the 60 magistrates from a pool of over 700
applications received.
Government recently gave the JSC the green light to recruit 233 employees
in a bid to oil the wheels of justice and to restore the functionality of
the courts.
The unfreezing of the posts will result in the organisation recruiting 70
magistrates, 37 court interpreters, 15 clerks of court, 51 assistant
registrars, 30 judges’ clerks and 30 drivers between July and November
this year.
With effect from September 1, JSC will recruit 10 court interpreters, 20
assistant registrars, 10 drivers, 10 judges’ clerks and the last batch of
10 magistrates.
In November, the commission will recruit 15 clerks of court, 31 assistant
registrars, 20 judge’s clerks and 10 drivers.
COMMENTS