Two Bulawayo magistrates who were redeployed to new stations in September have resigned allegedly in protest at being transferred
While the Judicial Service Commission yesterday insisted that Mr Abednico Ndebele and Ms Maryln Muchina tendered their resignations due to other undisclosed reasons, sources said the two were leaving allegedly in protest over the transfers. Mr Ndebele, who is based at Western Commonage magistrate’s courts, had been transferred to Esigodini with effect from January 1 next year while Ms Muchina was due to start work last Tuesday in Mutoko. Chief Magistrate Mr Mishrod Guvamombe confirmed the duo’s resignation from the JSC but said it had nothing to do with their redeployment.
He said redeployments were normal in the JSC and were meant to strengthen operations and curb corruption. “The two have resigned but it has nothing to do with the transfers. They never complained, they instead cited other reasons. “As for deployments it’s part of their work but so far none of the magistrates moved have complained. To those who have challenges we endeavour to address them,” said Mr Guvamombe. The chief magistrate said Ms Muchina has since left as she resigned with immediate effect. He said Mr Ndebele would leave on December 31.
Sources said Mr Ndebele and Ms Muchina were not happy with the transfers. “The two were not ready to move to their new stations. As for Ndebele he was yet to settle at Western Commonage after being moved from the regional courts last year then another transfer came up. The resignations could be a sign of protest,” said a source. Ms Muchina was sworn in as a magistrate in 2014 after serving four years as a trainee magistrate in a career spanning six years at Tredgold Magistrates’ Court.
Mr Ndebele attended the Judicial College of Zimbabwe (JCZ) class of 1995 to 1997 and was among the first group of magistrates to attend the JCZ. He was sworn in as magistrate in December 1997 and was deployed at West Commonage Magistrates’ Court before moving to Tredgold in 1999. In 2002, he was redeployed to Western Commonage before moving to Plumtree in 2003. In October 2003, Mr Ndebele was transferred to Tsholotsho where he was stationed until May 2015 when he was elevated to acting regional magistrate at the regional court at Tredgold Magistrates’ court.
Mr Ndebele was acting regional magistrate following the dismissal of Mr Sikhumbuzo Nyathi. The post was then taken up by Mrs Sibongile MsipaMarondedze resulting in Mr Ndebele being moved to West Commonage Courts in October last year prior to his latest transfer. The Judicial Service Commission in September embarked on a massive redeployment exercise which saw 33 magistrates being transferred. The exercise was mainly targeting magistrates in border, mining towns and those that had overstayed at their stations