adminPamela Shumba Senior Reporter
SUSPENDED senior regional Bulawayo magistrate Sikhumbuzo Nyathi has dismissed corruption allegations leveled against him saying the reports were meant to tarnish his ‘good image’. Nyathi, who is accused of trying to bribe a fellow magistrate to induce her to pass a favourable judgement, was suspended together with provincial magistrate Singandu Jele, who was accused of drinking beer during working hours.
Nyathi’s lawyer, Prince Butshe Dube of Mcijo, Dube and Partners, said his client was awaiting his day in court.
Dube dismissed the allegations facing his client as untrue.
“Nyathi is disappointed by these allegations, which are calculated to tarnish his good image and to bring him down.
“However, he is awaiting his day in court to clear his name,” said Dube.
According to Chief Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe, Nyathi allegedly acted in a corrupt way and sent a Lupane based magistrate $305 via mobile money transfer to influence her judgement against a certain Clement Wanda.
Guvamombe 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 will not be reporting for work until his matter is concluded.
He is said to have tried to influence a case involving 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 Anele Munamati, the magistrate who Nyathi allagedly tried to bribe.
Nyathi recently made headlines for issuing a warrant of arrest against a prosecutor for failing to turn up for a case.
Prosecutor Paida Zengeni Nyathi was on leave, but the magistrate appeared impatient to conclude the case and ordered her arrest.
Last year, Nyathi threatened court reporters in the middle of delivering a judgement, claiming that they had miquoted him.
Online Reporter