Magistrates defy call to end strike
08/04/2011 00:00:00
by Lindie Whiz
MAGISTRATES at the Bulawayo and Western Commonage magistrates’ courts did
not report for duty on Friday, defying a call by their union to end the
ongoing national strike for better pay.
On Thursday the Magistrates’ Association of Zimbabwe (ZMA) signed a joint
statement with their employer, the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), and
the Chief Magistrate’s Office calling on officers to return to work while
negotiations continue.
However, only the provincial magistrate in charge of Bulawayo and
Matabeleland North provinces, John Masimba, turned up at the Bulawayo
magistrates’ courts while no sitting took place at Western Commonage.
Meanwhile, 15 new cases were brought before Masimba who remanded out of
custody all the suspects including two facing a robbery charge and a
juvenile charged with attempted murder.
Even in cases where suspects were pleading guilty Masimba would not record
any plea and remanded them 21 April.
Magistrates stopped reporting for work on Monday to press for higher pay.
Magistrates currently earn between US$206 and US$236 while regional
magistrates earn US$300.
The ZMA is demanding payment of US$600 for magisterial assistants, US$1,000
for junior magistrates, US$1,500 for senior magistrates, US$2,000 for senior
provincial magistrates, US$2,500 for regional magistrates, US$3,000 for
senior regional and deputy Chief Magistrate and US$3,300 for the Chief
Magistrate.
The strike has left police chiefs fearing the possible breach criminal
suspects’ rights by holding them beyond the 48 hours allowed by law before
they are taken to court.
Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa has advised police to fine suspects
arrested on minor offences, and refer more serious criminals to Zimbabwe’s
prisons after reports holding cells countrywide were filling up.
Also caught up in the strike are couples intending to wed, and those seeking
to force through their divorces. Marriage and divorce certificates must be
signed by a magistrate.
Zim Magistrates Resume Work
08/04/2011 13:03:00
Harare, April 08, 2011 – Zimbabwe’s magistrates, who went on strike last
Monday to press for a review in their salaries, on Friday resumed duty after
government promised them a 100 percent salary hike.
Sources privy to Thursday’s discussions entered between the magistrates and
their employer, the Judicial Service Commission told Radio VOP on Friday
that the entry point for a magistrate will now be US$490.
“The whole salary spectrum is between US$490 and slightly above US$1120,”
said a Harare magistrate on condition of anonymity.
Currently, Zimbabwe’s magistrates are getting salaries of between $200 and
$300. They were demanding salaries ranging from $1000 for the lowest paid to
$3500.
According to the sources, the new salary structure is with effect from April
1 this year.
Another magistrate interviewed on condition of anonymity said the new
salaries, although falling short of what they were demanding, were
“satisfactory”.
Reached for comment Magistrates Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ) secretary
general Munamato Mutevedzi refused to discuss the new salaries.
“We issued a statement yesterday. We cannot comment on anything outside the
statement,” he said.
In Thursday’s statement issued jointly by the Judicial Service Commission,
the Chief Magistrate and MAZ, the parties agreed the magistrates would
resume work immediately while negotiations continued.
“Negotiations between the JSC and the MAZ are continuing. We wish to notify
wish to notify the nation that magistrates, being judicial officers, remain
deeply touched by the plight of the general public who have been prejudiced
by the impasse between us,” read the statement in part.