Chronicle EditorPrince Sunduzani, Chronicle Reporter
BULAWAYO magistrates are over-worked due to shortage of magistrates at courts in the province, a Member of Parliament has said.
Harare West MP Ms Jessie Fungayi Majome, who is a lawyer by profession said this in parliament recently.
The MP said magistrates at Bulawayo’s Tredgold Court work in several courts and have to deal with a high volume of cases.
“They work in the bail court, they get into the maintenance court and they go to the deceased estates court, the same magistrates. They have such a high volume of cases that even for them to write judgements it’s so difficult,” she said.
The MP said the justice delivery system was being compromised due to the working conditions of magistrates in Bulawayo.
She asked what the Judicial Service Commission was doing to address challenges magistrates in the city were facing.
“What is it that they are doing in order to ensure that there are sufficient magistrates that are available above the level of the most junior magistrates so that the public encounters justice and that the magistrates who work there are also working under conditions that are bearable?” said Ms Majome.
The MP was asked to put her questions in writing. -@PrinceNkosy102
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter