Judge faces JSC probe over racy WhatsApp messages with subordinate
HARARE – A High Court judge is facing scrutiny from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) following allegations that he sent suggestive WhatsApp messages to a married court clerk, prompting a formal complaint after the messages were intercepted by her husband.
Justice Pisirayi Kwenda of the Harare High Court is at the centre of the inquiry after screenshots of the exchange were reportedly submitted to the JSC, which is chaired by Chief Justice Luke Malaba.
ZimLive has been shown some of the messages, which begin with the judge telling the woman that he missed her. He goes on to make sexual innuendo during their conversation.
“I miss you,” the judge wrote in one message, to which the woman responded: “Really?”
The exchange continued with the woman asking about vacation duty, prompting the judge to reply in Shona: “Ne case yembudzi iyoyi (With this goat case),” apparently referring to a goats-related matter.
“Yaa pange paipa, I hope tools down now,” the woman replied.
The judge seized on her response, writing: “..and tools in,” which he followed with a “see no evil” monkey emoji.
The screenshots seen by this publication end with the woman laughing and asking, “Kkk in where?”
It is unclear how many messages between the pair the JSC is reviewing.
The conversation is understood to have taken place days after Justice Kwenda delivered judgement in the corruption trial of businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu.
The pair were jailed after being convicted over fraudulent documents used to secure an US$88 million agriculture ministry tender for the supply of goats. Justice Kwenda handed down that ruling on December 8 last year.
Legal sources say that when asked by the JSC to respond to the complaint, Justice Kwenda argued that the woman’s husband violated his privacy by intercepting the messages. The woman, meanwhile, is reported to have told the JSC that “nothing happened” between her and the judge.
Chief Justice Malaba is expected to determine whether any judicial misconduct occurred, which – if proven – would result in disciplinary action against the judge.
The case has echoes of a 2021 incident which ultimately resulted in Justice Thompson Mabhikwa being removed from the bench.
Mabhikwa had become romantically involved with a judge’s clerk at the Bulawayo High Court. While he was asleep, the woman reportedly accessed his phone and discovered he was involved with other women, before circulating nude images found on the device to a judges’ WhatsApp group — a scandal that ultimately led to disciplinary proceedings and his removal as a judge.
JSC spokesperson Daniel Nemukuyu declined to comment.
The husband of the woman who filed the complaint said “no comment” when contacted.
_ZimLive_
