Magistrate fired for misconduct

Senior Court Reporter
A CHIPINGE magistrate, Mr Clemence Ngweshiwa, has been fired for flouting court procedures.
Although no comment was readily available from the Judicial Services Commission, it is alleged that the magistrate mishandled a fraud case in which a convicted fraudster wanted an extended time to pay restitution.
Allegations are that Mr Ngweshiwa was fired for allowing Givemore Tapera, who is serving his sentence in jail, an extended period to pay restitution after he was represented by his brother in court.

The procedure is unlawful.
Efforts to get a comment from the Chief Magistrate’s Office were fruitless at the time of going to press as his secretary demanded to be availed the questions in writing. In June 2012, another Chipinge magistrate, Jenifer Mangombe — who was subsequently fired – connived with a clerk of court and an interpreter to free seven inmates from Chipinge Prison.

Charges were that Mangombe and her two co-accused – clerk of court Thomas Munyawarara (30) and Tapiwa Mashonganyika (30), an interpreter at the Chipinge Magistrates’ Court – connived to write warrants of liberation to facilitate the release of the prisoners.
The trio then destroyed records of proceedings to conceal evidence.

Munyawarara acted under the instructions from Mangombe to prepare the warrants of liberation and sign them.