Zim GBC News | Crimes and Courts
HARARE – A senior High Court judge is facing a formal inquiry by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) over allegations of inappropriate communication with a married subordinate.
Justice Pisirayi Kwenda of the Harare High Court is under scrutiny after screenshots of a suggestive WhatsApp conversation with a court clerk were submitted to the judicial oversight body. The messages were reportedly discovered and forwarded to the JSC by the woman’s husband.
The commission, chaired by Chief Justice Luke Malaba, is now reviewing the evidence to determine if judicial misconduct occurred.
According to screenshots seen by our news crew, the exchange began with Justice Kwenda messaging the woman, “I miss you.” When she responded with “Really?”, the conversation turned to work matters before taking a suggestive turn.
The clerk inquired about vacation duty, to which the judge replied in Shona: “Ne case yembudzi iyoyi (With this goat case),” an apparent reference to the high-profile corruption case of businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, whom he sentenced in December over a fraudulent multi-million-dollar goat supply tender.
“Yaa pange paipa, I hope tools down now,” the woman replied. Justice Kwenda then seized on the phrasing, writing: “..and tools in,” followed by a “see no evil” monkey emoji. The clerk responded with laughter, asking, “Kkk in where?”
A legal source familiar with the probe stated,
“The JSC is assessing whether the content and nature of these messages, given the judge’s position of authority over a court employee, breach the strict code of judicial conduct expected of officers of the court.”
When contacted for a response, JSC spokesperson Mr. Daniel Nemukuyu declined to comment on the ongoing matter.
It is understood that Justice Kwenda, when initially questioned by the JSC, contended that the husband violated his privacy by intercepting the messages. The court clerk involved has reportedly told investigators that “nothing happened” beyond the exchange.
Chief Justice Malaba will ultimately decide whether to institute formal disciplinary proceedings.
The case recalls the 2021 scandal that led to the removal from the bench of Justice Thompson Mabhikwa, who was involved in a romantic relationship with a clerk that resulted in nude images being circulated in a judges’ WhatsApp group.
A judicial ethics expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted,
“The judiciary’s integrity hinges on the perceived and actual conduct of its officers. Any interaction that blurs professional boundaries, especially with subordinates, is treated with extreme seriousness by the JSC.”
The husband of the woman who filed the complaint said “no comment” when approached our correspondent.
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