Kambuzuma Girl Becomes First Black Judge In Texas, USA, Michelle Netsai Makes History
Kurai Primary School Girl Makes History, Proud Moment For Africa
By Fanuel Viriri
Kambuzuma-born Zimbabwean-American, Michelle Netsai Butler, has been elected the first Black Judge in Denton County, Texas last night, becoming the first Black Zimbabwean-American judge elected to public office in the United States.
Butler has won her election to become the Denton County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 6 in Texas with a historic victory in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Michelle was born to Gideon Shambambeva and Victoria Njagu in Harare and raised in Harare’s Kambuzuma Section 6. She attended Kurai and Darwendale Primary Schools before moving to the United States. She has now lived in Carrollton for more than 20 years, raising two daughters and volunteering at Hebron High band events and at Hebron Valley Elementary Schools.
She got her marriage license and her first U.S. passport at the same government building where the JP6 court now sits. Now she will preside as Judge in that same building. Before running for office, she worked organizing campaigns and helped young people run for office across Texas, including campaigns for Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris.
Prior to her general election victory, she handily won the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026, defeating Sophia Anwar.
For many in Zimbabwe, the word “judge” sounds like someone appointed by government. But in Texas, judges at this level are chosen by the people. As Justice of the Peace, Butler will preside over the community court, the first place ordinary people go when life gets complicated. This is the court that handles money disputes, unpaid bills, and evictions. It is also where traffic tickets, minor offenses, and school truancy cases are heard.
Her campaign message was simple: the court should not trap working families. It should give payment plans instead of jail for small fines, it should connect families to help before eviction, and it should ask why a child is missing school instead of just punishing them.
From Kurai Primary in Kambuzuma to making Black history in America.
