New court for Esigodini

Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent THE Judicial Service Commission (JSC), through funding from the Danish Government, has constructed a new magistrates’ court in Esigodini, at a cost of $80 000. The Danish International Development Agency (Danida) injected $20 million towards JSC’s various development programmes. In an interview during a tour of the new Esigodini court by Danida Grant Committee on Friday, JSC deputy secretary Mr Walter Chikwana expressed gratitude over the construction of the new court. He said the court had brought relief to court users in Esigodini. “The challenges that we had especially here in Esigodini related to the non-availability of courts to be used by magistrates and members of the public. “We were situated at a court complex where we were sharing with the Department of Social Services but now with intervention of the Government of Denmark, particularly represented by Danida here in Zimbabwe, we have had a fruitful partnership which has led to the successful completion of construction of Esigodini Magistrates Court. It means that the court staff together with the magistrate are adequately accommodated. “It also means that members of the public are able to access the court in an environment which makes it very free for them to express themselves at court,” Mr Chikwana said. He said the JSC was overwhelmed by the support it received from the Danish government and other stakeholders. “We are really indebted to the support rendered to us as JSC,” Mr Chikwana said. The liaison officer in the Danish Embassy, Mr Erik Brogger Rasmussen, said they were happy with the existing relations between Zimbabwe and Denmark. He said they would continue supporting the country to ensure better justice delivery for all citizens in the country. “We are quite happy that the partnership we have is showing off not just in a structure like this but in all the services that surround justice delivery in Zimbabwe,” Mr Rasmussen said. Stakeholders also commended the Danish Government for supporting the JSC, saying its input would go a long way in creating a better environment in the delivery of justice in the country. The construction of the new spacious court is expected to improve delivery of quality legal services to court users and is a relief to magistrates, prosecutors and the community who had been forced to operate in an unfriendly environment. Prior to the development, an old dilapidated building, formerly a shop, was used as the magistrates’ court, creating an unfriendly environment for court users. The new court is expected to be commissioned next month. Also present during the tour was the Danish Under Secretary for Global Issues and Development Cooperation, provincial magistrate Mr Reuben Mukavhi, Chief Sigola and Unicef officials.