Magistrate strike regrettable, says office of Chief Justice

Impending strike action from Magistrates country-wide is regrettable, the office of the Chief Justice said on Saturday.

The office said the Chief Justice was not in a position to comment on the strike it as it had yet to be finalised by the court.

"The office of the Chief Justice wishes to place on record that should the strike action materialise, it would be regrettable and that Magistrates would jeopardise the welfare of the very people to whom they are obliged by the Constitution to render a service," spokesman Lulama Luti said.

Magistrates are demanding a single pay structure for the judiciary: one that would have their salaries and benefits put on the same sliding scale as those of judges. This could see their salaries increase by almost 100 percent.

The magistracy is at odds with the commission and the president on the issue, and has been trying to force a review of the commission's allocations for the past two years, on the basis that it was not properly consulted.

Luti said there were official channels where such issues could be attended to.