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George Maponga in Masvingo
Former Chiredzi resident magistrate Mr Tayengwa Chibanda, appeared before a three-member disciplinary committee in Masvingo this week to answer to charges of gross misconduct and incompetence in the discharge of his duties.

The Judicial Services Commission (JSC) set up the committee that interrogated Mr Chibanda at the Masvingo Magistrate Courts.

Mr Chibanda, who is now based in Gweru, is accused of incompetently performing his duties after he fined an accused person $30 or alternatively 20 days in prison for severely assaulting his relative, one Dereck Mutambu, resulting in his hospitalisation.

The way Mr Chibanda handled the case during his stint in Chiredzi early this year, raised eyebrows, sources revealed.

Mutambu later on lodged a complaint against Mr Chibanda with the JSC as he felt that the former Chiredzi resident magistrate passed a lenient sentence on the accused as he proceeded with the trial without relevant documents such as medical reports which made the matter appear weak.

He made the complainant citing that his assailant received a light sentence yet a medical report showed that he broke one rib and had to undergo an operation to drain blood from his chest as a result of the assault.

High Court Judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu, made a damning report over the way Mr Chibanda handled the case after the matter went for review at the superior court.

Sources on Thursday said Mr Chibanda’s hearing was being led by Western region senior regional magistrate Mr Tranos Utabwashe and two other magistrates.

Chief Magistrate Mr Mishrod Guvamombe confirmed that Mr Chibanda had appeared before a disciplinary hearing for misconduct but refused to shed more light.

“As you know the matter is sub-judice so there is nothing that I can say at the moment until it is finalised,” said Mr Guvamombe.