Zimbabwe: High Court Calls for Expansion of Magistrates’ Sentencing Powers

Fidelis Munyoro — The Judiciary has called upon the legislature to urgently expand the sentencing jurisdiction of regional magistrates, enabling them to impose penalties that reflect the gravity of the offences they preside over.

This call comes against the backdrop of new sentencing guidelines which prescribe a presumptive penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment for robbery committed under aggravating circumstances.

However, the sentencing powers of regional magistrates remain capped at a mere 12…