Senior magistrate fired over bribe

Bulawayo Bureau
Suspended senior regional magistrate Mr Sikhumbuzo Nyathi has been fired after a disciplinary panel investigating his case of misconduct concluded that he was guilty of trying to bribe a junior magistrate to influence her judgment.

Mr Nyathi was suspended in March after a whistle-blower notified Chief Magistrate Mr Mishrod Guvamombe that he had send a Lupane-based magistrate $305 to influence her judgment against Mr Clement Wanda early this year.

Mr Guvamombe said Mr Nyathi’s case was finalised and it was decided that he be relieved of his duties.

“The disciplinary committee finally concluded Nyathi’s case and he has been relieved of his duties as a magistrate. The findings show that there was an element of misconduct,” he said before referring this paper to senior regional magistrate, Mr Trynos Utahwashe, for further details.

Mr Utahwashe could not give details, saying he had returned the file to Harare.

It is understood that the case that brought Mr Nyathi’s demise involved a bar-fight between a detective from the Criminal Investigations Department and Mr Wanda who is believed to be a Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) agent.

Mr Wanda was eventually convicted, jailed six months and fined $300 by Ms Aelene Munamati, the magistrate that Mr Nyathi tried to bribe.

Mr Nyathi allegedly sent the $305 via Ecocash to Ms Munamati as he tried to influence her judgment on the case.

Mr Nyathi recently made headlines when he issued a warrant of arrest against a prosecutor, Paida Zengeni, for failing to turn up for a case.

Zengeni, apparently was on leave but Mr Nyathi appeared impatient to get the case concluded as he ordered her arrest.

Last year, Mr Nyathi threatened court reporters in the middle of a judgment claiming that they had misquoted him.

Another Bulawayo magistrate, Singandu Jele who was suspended at the same time with Mr Nyathi, was fired earlier for drinking beer during working hours. He missed a court session while drinking beer and was found sleeping by one of the magistrates who reported the misdemeanour to the provincial magistrate.