Govt threatens to sack striking magistrates

By Henry Makiwa
5 November 2007

The government has threatened to sack all striking magistrates if they continue to defy orders for them to return to work.

David Mangota, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice, on Friday ordered protesting magistrates and prosecutors to return to work and get their grievances addressed while they are on the job. Mangota’s threats have however been ignored and the job action continues. The effects of the strike have exerted pressure on the prison system as the amount of criminal suspects in custody continues to balloon, without trials.

Observers say the magistrates’ pay is paltry and compromises their delivery of duty as they have become prone to corrupt tendencies. It is understood that most magistrates earn a basic salary of Z$16 million, a figure that is far below the poverty datum line, which is pegged at Z$28 million.

Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa reports that Mangota met representatives of the striking legal practitioners in Harare and gave them little room for compromise. Most magistrates and prosecutors are said to have left the meeting fuming at the arrogance Mangota demonstrated towards them.

Mangota’s threats have been questioned because the judicial service is reeling under the effects of a mass exodus of senior members of staff who are leaving the country for greener pastures.

Muchemwa reports: “The strike is a week old now and its effects are severe. Before the job action began, the judiciary services had a backlog of over 350 000 cases to deal with.

“The effects will be felt most by criminal suspects and prisoners behind bars who are waiting for their cases to be heard. But the magistrates’ demands have to be considered as well. They are pressing the government to review their salaries upwards by almost 900 percent as well as to improve their general working conditions.”

On Tuesday, Harare and Chitungwiza courts were operating on reduced capacity while elsewhere around the country all courts doors are still shut.