New tribunal chair to investigate judge

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed retired judge Justice November Mtshiya to chair the tribunal to investigate the suitability of suspended High Court Justice Thompson Mabhikwa to hold office. The Herald reports that he has also extended the life span of the tribunal by another six months. Mtshiya replaces Justice Mafios Cheda who had initially been tasked to head the probe but recused himself from the inquiry on the grounds that he is related to the woman at the centre of the probe. The tribunal was established in June after pressure mounted on the Bulawayo-based judge to step down to preserve the integrity and dignity of the Bench following reports he allegedly had an affair with a High Court employee. In a Statutory Instrument 233 published last week, Mnangagwa changed the composition of the three-member panel to the tribunal and appointed Mutshiya.