Senior regional magistrate fired

Thandeka Moyo Court Reporter
SUSPENDED senior regional magistrate 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.

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

Chief magistrate Guvamombe said 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, Trynos Utahwashe, for further details.

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

The Chronicle understands the case that brought Nyathi’s downfall involved a bar-fight between a detective from the Criminal Investigations Department and Wanda, believed to be a Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) agent.

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

Nyathi allegedly sent money, $305, via Ecocash to magistrate Munamati, as he tried to influence her judgment on the case.

The dismissed magistrate 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 Nyathi appeared impatient to get the case concluded and he ordered her arrest.

Last year, 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 Nyathi, was fired earlier for drinking beer during working hours.

Jele missed a court session while drinking beer and was found sleeping by one of the magistrates who reported the misdemeanour to the provincial magistrate.