Chronicle Editor
Midlands Bureau Chief
GOVERNMENT has established an additional 13 magistrates’ courts in high-density suburbs of towns, cities and remote rural areas across the country as the Second Republic steps up efforts to bring justice to the people.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi made the announcement of additional magistrates’ courts, including periodic sittings in remote areas in a Statutory Instrument 173 of 2023 gazetted last week.
The areas that are set to have magistrates’ courts include Emganwini suburb in Bulawayo, Brunapeg in Mangwe district in Matabeleland South, Kamativi in Binga district, Matabeleland North, Nembudziya in Gokwe district, Mkoba in Gweru in the Midlands province while Siabuwa and Lusulu in Binga, Matabeleland North will hold periodic magistrates’ courts.
Others areas where resident magistrate’ ‘courts would be set include Banket district in Mashonaland West, Shamva and Mushumbi in Mashonaland Central province, Sakubva and Dangamvura in Mutare.
Mbare, which already has a provincial court, was upgraded to have a regional court as well.
The setting up of additional magistrate’s courts is expected to enhance the justice delivery system by ensuring that litigants, witnesses, and accused persons are able to access justice near where they live.
The additional courts will also help decongest magistrates’ courts. Minister Ziyambi said the courts were set in terms of Section (4) 3 of the Magistrates Court Act.
In Gweru, the local authority early this year availed land to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for the construction of a Magistrates court in Mkoba at Mkoba 5 turn-off and the High Court near Megawatt Mall along the Bulawayo highway.
Prominent Midlands province lawyer Mr Esau Mandipa of Mutatu and Mandipa Legal Practice commended the Government and JSC for spearheading the move to bring justice to the people.
“Having additional courts in Mkoba high-density suburb in Gweru and in Nembudziya in Gokwe for example, is a welcome development to justice delivery system. We need more courts, especially criminal courts, to address the problem of backlogs,” he said.
Mr Mandipa said Mkoba suburb is a big area with two Parliamentary constituencies hence a court is required.
“The advantage is bringing justice to the people, and there will be no need for litigants and witnesses to incur unnecessary transport costs travelling to the city centre where we only find courts of law,” he said.
“This is a welcome development and the JSC should continue with this positive move of bringing justice closer to the people.”
Another lawyer, Mr Ignatius Mupfiga of Gundu, Dube, and Pamacheche Legal Practitioners said setting up magistrates courts in areas such as Emganwini, Lusulu, and Mkoba will help enhance justice delivery.
“It is common cause that we have a growing population in need of legal services. The development comes with a lot of advantages which include increased access to justice for local people and also reduce the backlog,” he said.
Mr Mupfiga said this development is also in line with Government’s policy to decentralise Government services and increase revenue flow for the JSC.
Victoria Falls-based lawyer Mr Tonderai Mutasa said having periodic sittings in Lusulu will bring justice to the villagers’ doorsteps.
“Yes, we understand that witnesses are reimbursed travel costs when they come to testify, but there is also an element of time. So, if there are witnesses who are summoned at Lusulu they have a few hours at court meaning they can use that time for other things,” he said.
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