Chief Magistrate Granted $3 000 Bail ⋆ Pindula News

Suspended chief magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe was granted $3 000 bail when he appeared before Harare magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi yesterday facing allegations of abuse of office.

Guvamombe should report to the police three times a week, not to travel 50km outside Harare and to surrender surety of a property valued at more than $30 000. He was arrested on Friday, the same day he was suspended from office by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on allegations of abuse of office. He was accused of approving the internship of former cabinet ministers Saviour Kasukuwere and Supa Mandiwanzira at the magistrates’ court at a time when they were facing criminal charges during their days as ministers.

In passing the bail ruling, Mutevedzi said the state, which had opposed bail on the grounds that Guvamombe would interfere with witnesses or flee the country, had failed to present compelling reasons that would warrant denial of bail. It is alleged that on November 27, 2018, Guvamombe received correspondence from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) seeking internship places for law students and on the list were Kasukuwere and Mandiwanzira. He authorised the attachment of the students by appending his signature and referred the correspondence to the deputy chief magistrate for action without any comments or reservations.