The Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda has directed that former High Court judge Justice Erica Ndewere be given back her Mercedes-Benz vehicle which was violently seized from her by the Sheriff on orders from Judicial Service Commission (JSC), reported NewsDay.
Erica Ndewere alleged that the assailants broke into her residence and forcefully repossessed the vehicle in November 2022 following her dismissal in 2021.
She said the vehicle was taken away from her despite pending court proceedings whereby she was challenging her dismissal.
Ndewere argued that Chief Justice Luke Malaba was discriminating against her as she was being treated differently from other judges who were dismissed.
She cited former judge Thompson Mabhikwa who was given his two official vehicles after his dismissal.
A letter addressed to JSC secretary Walter Chikwanha, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda reads in part:
Reference is made to your minute dated February 16, 2023 on the above matter. Authority is hereby granted for the former judge of the High Court of Zimbabwe, Mrs. E Ndewere to purchase the motor vehicle which was allocated to her during her tenure as a judge of the High Court.
Erica Ndewere was fired by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in June 2021 after a tribunal had found her guilty of misconduct. The office of the president and cabinet said at the time:
The Tribunal established in terms of section 187 (3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, to inquire into the question of removal from office of Honourable Justice Erica Ndewere has completed its investigations.
The Tribunal has presented its findings to His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe in terms of section 187 (7) of the Constitution. The tribunal has recommended that Honourable Justice Ndewere be removed from office for gross incompetence.
His Excellency, the President has accordingly, in terms of section 187 (8) of the Constitution, removed Honourable Justice Erica Ndewere from office with immediate effect.
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