adminSenior Court Reporter
THE Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) has appointed Mr Elias Magate (56) as the new provincial magistrate in charge of Matabeleland North and Bulawayo provinces. Mr Magate, formerly provincial magistrate in charge of Masvingo, replaces John Masimba who died last month following intestinal lacerations that emanated from an accident.
In an interview on Wednesday, Mr Magate said his priority was to clear a backlog of cases in the two provinces.
“As a new head of the station, my emphasis is on the need for collective team work. I therefore urge my colleagues and other key stakeholders to join hands so that we are able to clear the backlog of cases. Through combined efforts we will manage to speed up the delivery of justice and the backlog of cases would certainly be a thing of the past within the next three months,” he said.
Mr Magate joined the then Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in 1983 as a community court presiding officer.
He worked in Masvingo, Gwanda and Beitbridge in that capacity before enrolling at the University of Zimbabwe between 1989 and 1991 where he studied a magisterial course.
Between 1992 and 1995, he worked as a junior magistrate in Bulawayo, Gutu and Nkayi, a station which he opened.
Mr Magate rose through the ranks to become provincial magistrate.
In January 2001, JSC appointed Mr Magate a provincial head for Masvingo station until his transfer to Bulawayo on 15 July.
He did his primary education at Manjeri Primary in Zaka district before going to St Antony’s High in the same district for his secondary education.
Mr Magate completed his A-level studies through correspondence.
He is married to wife, Lillian and the couple is blessed with seven children, a son and six daughters.
Online Reporter