Mishrod Guvamombe granted temporary relief

Chief magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe has been granted temporary relief after an application to have his criminal matter heard at the High court Harare was granted.

The JSC bigwig who is currently on suspension after being charged with criminal abuse of office will now be tried at the High instead of the Magistrate’s court. He had brought an application for review before the high court challenging the current acting chief magistrate’s refusal to recuse himself from hearing his matter. Guvamombe had claimed that it was not in the interests of justice for him to be tried at the Magistrate’s court by a magistrate who was his junior. He said in terms of seniority a junior could not be expected to try his senior.

Guvamombe, through his lawyer Jonathan Samkange, had also said that the magistrate was bound to be biased towards him as he had been in a position of authority over him. The state had opposed the application to have him indicted to the High court citing that there was no evidence that the magistrate would be biased.

Justice Amy Tsanga ruled in favour of Guvamombe and ordered that the matter be heard at the high court Harare.
Guvamombe will be indicted to the High court.