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Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
Chief magistrate Mr Mishrod Guvamombe has launched investigations into the case in which a Gokwe magistrate allegedly lost cash and valuables worth $330 to a 21-year-old prostitute in Harare.
Pamela Hamandawana of No. 11 Mupani Street, Chitungwiza, allegedly teamed up with other prostitutes to assault and rob magistrate Mr Shepherd Munjanja, who she said was her client.
Earlier reports identified Mr Munjanja as a regional magistrate, but it turned out that he was an ordinary magistrate based in Gokwe.
In terms of the judicial service regulations, engaging in prostitution activities is tantamount to bringing the judiciary into disrepute.
If the investigations show that indeed Mr Munjanja had gone to the prostitute for intimacy, he is likely to be charged for misconduct.
Mr Guvamombe said his office was still trying to establish the circumstances surrounding the assault and robbery.
“The Chief Magistrates Office is investigating the case to establish whether the magistrate’s actions were proper under the circumstances,” he said.
“The magistrate involved in the case is an ordinary magistrate and he is not a regional magistrate. We only have one regional magistrate in Gokwe and he is not linked in any way to the matter.”
Hamandawana has since appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo charged with robbery and was remanded in custody to November 6 for trial.
She told the court that she had not robbed Munjanja (34), but only knew him as her client.
“He was robbed by Chipo and Tafadzwa who handed the property to me,” she said. “Chipo claimed that he owed her some money since he had failed to pay her for the night he had spent with her.”
The prosecutor Mr Peter Machirika alleged that on October 26 this year, around 7am, Munjanja was sitting in his car at Pirrele Tyre Shop in the city.
The court heard that Munjanja was approached by a man who claimed to have a tyre and rim for sale.
It is alleged that the man lured Munjanja to Treckerel Court, which is used as a brothel.
The man lied to Munjanja that they were offices and allegedly shoved him into a room where Hamandawana and two other women were waiting.
Hamandawana and her accomplices allegedly assaulted Munjanja, accusing him of having raped one of them the last time he had visited the brothel.
Hamandawana and her accomplices went on to steal $156, bank cards, fuel coupons worth $179, a driver’s licence, car keys and a note pad from Munjanja, it is alleged.
They ordered Munjanja to go to the bank to withdraw more money.
Munjanja, in the company of Hamandawana, hired a taxi and headed for Stanbic Bank, but took to his heels when they were dropped off.
Hamandawana was later arrested after Munjanja reported the matter to the police and only valuables worth $180 were recovered.
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