Chronicle Editor
Rutendo Nyeve – Sunday News Reporter
THE late Judge, Justice Mercy Moya-Matshanga has been described as a team unifier, God fearing woman and a legal pundit who had people at heart through committing herself towards helping various peole with requisite legal advise when they sought it.
Justice Moya-Matshanga died on 18 July at the age of 61.
A befitting funeral service was held on Saturday at Amphitheatre before her remains were taken to Lady Stanley cemetery which has been set aside for various luminaries who have served the city with integrity.
At the time of her death, Justice Moya-Matshanga was the labour judge in charge in Bulawayo.
Speaking on behalf of the Judicial Services Commmission (JSC), Senior Judge of the Labour Court Justice Custom Kachambwa described the late as a team member who served in the judicial system with intergrity and hard work.
“I worked with the late Justice Moya-Matshanga and she was based here in Bulawayo, heading the court alone. She was a hard worker, a very disciplined judge. I like to think that even at the last minute, she was still working hard, looking at her judgments. She was such a joy to work with. She was a team member. She liked to work with others, including working with even the Secretariat.
“She would have meetings with them, and they worked very well. Her contribution to the system is unmeasurable. If all judges can be hard workers like her, we would have a great system. She was a team member. That, to us, is very, very clear. She liked to work with others. She liked to contribute. She liked to see us go for the judiciary and for that, there are no other words that can describe her,” said Jistice Kachambwa.
Family spokesperson who is also her daughter Miss Gail Moyo described her mother as a person who was people centred and was always willing to serve the people.
“We are indeed mourning the passing on of our mother but what gives us comfort is how she served the people. We are comforted by the fact that she really worked for the people. She would give free legal advise. She also liked farming which she also dedicated her time to quite a lot,” said Miss Moyo.
Born on 12 February 1963, Justice Moya-Matshnga began her legal journey in 1985 when she enrolled for a Bachelor of Law Honours Degree (LLB) at University of Zimbabwe and completed in 1988.
From 1989-1992 she became a law officer where she prosecuted in the lower courts, minor cases of assault GbH, theft and many others. In 1993-1995 she became a senior law officer which saw her prosecuting at the regional court (Criminal cases, armed robbery, rape and carjacking).
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In 1996-2000 she became a principal law officer where she continued prosecuting at the regional magistrate’s court and in the High court of Zimbabwe. She was then elevated to Chief law officer at the Attorney General’s office from 2001-2004 covering the western division (Matabeleland South and North) where she was in charge of the Attorney General’s Office and prosecuting matters in the superior courts as well as being responsible for the day to day running of the office.
She was further elevated to the Administrative court covering Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South and Midlands from 2004- July 2006 where she was hearing applications for land acquisitions.
From 2006 she became a Judge of the Labour Court in Zimbabwe, a position she held till her death.
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