The Sunday News
Johnsias Mutonhori, Midlands Correspondent
PLANS are on the cards to construct magistrate courts in Mkoba and Senga in Gweru as part of the Judicial Service Commission’s broader efforts of bringing the justice delivery system to the communities for ease of access.
Speaking to journalists during the introduction of the Integrated Electronic Case Management System in Gweru recently, JSC secretary Mr Walter Chikwanha said they were targeting to establish magistrate courts in Mkoba and Senga, a move meant to bring justice service to the residents’ doorsteps.
“It has become necessary because of rural to urban migration to establish courts in residential areas so that we avoid having members of the public travelling all the way from high density areas going into town to access the nearest court. Here in Gweru, we want to have a court in Mkoba and Senga to ease access to courts by the general public,” he said.
Mr Chikwanha said the JSC had started setting up courts in residential areas in Epworth, Bulawayo and Mutare where all the local authorities had embraced the concept.
“The process is going on very well but I can also tell you that it is dependent on the cooperation we receive from local authorities in terms of us accessing land and buildings that we can rehabilitate to have those courts. We have had good cooperation from Epworth, which responded to our request and we have already constructed a court which we hope will be opened at the end of February. We have also engaged the Bulawayo City Council and we have now secured two stands where we are going to have court houses in Cowdray Park and Nkulumane. We have engaged Mutare City Council and we are hoping for a positive response,” he said.
He said the decentralization of courts was in line with the Government policy on access to justice and devolution. On the establishment of a High Court in the Midlands Province Mr Chikwanha said plans were in place.
“High Courts are available in Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Mutare, and Chinhoyi. Construction of a High Court is currently underway in Gwanda, Matabeleland South and plans are there to establish one in Gweru as well,” he said.
Contrary to previous media reports that GCC turned down JSC request to establish a magistrate court in residential areas, council spokesperson Miss Vimbai Chingwaramusee said the reports were adverse to what was on the ground.
“We didn’t turn them down but the building they had identified in the first place is a beerhall which we as a local authority thought was meant for recreational purposes. We thought it was prudent to give them land so we took them on a tour. We are still waiting for them, we want progress and having a magistrate’s court close to the people is a development that we applaud and can’t deny,” Miss Chingwaramusee said.
