Raymond Jaravaza-Bulawayo Bureau
THE introduction of the Integrated Electronic Case Management System across the country’s courts will curb corrupt practices in the justice system and enhance free access to judicial services while reducing the need for physical attendance.
Judicial Service Commission (JSC) secretary Dr Walter Chikwana revealed this at the launch of the IECMS outside the Bulawayo Magistrates Court yesterday, which was attended by members of the public, magistrates, lawyers, JSC staff, and members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
The system incorporates electronic filing, case tracking and management, automated case allocation, e-filing support services, and virtual hearings, among other applications designed for litigants, legal practitioners, law enforcement agents, judicial officers, and court administrators.
The electronic storage of court documents is also expected to help address the long-standing problem of missing or misplaced court records by ensuring that case information is securely stored and can be retrieved electronically.
To support the transition, the JSC has deployed national trainers who are working with court officials, legal practitioners, members of the uniformed forces, traditional leaders, and members of the public. The commission has also established e-filing offices and internet hubs to assist court users with registration and electronic filing.
“For a long time, JSC has received complaints of files and court documents having gone missing, as well as signatures being forged, and all of this was happening in our court registries,” said Dr Chikwana.
“We would like to assure members of the public that anomalies, complaints and challenges will be a thing of the past with the introduction of IECMS in all our courts across the country.
“Never again will there be complaints of people being asked to pay a court official to check the status of a case or to file a case on their behalf. Never again will you hear of any corrupt tendencies happening within our courts because the digital platform — IECMS — will make it possible for members of the public to check the status of a case or file their papers at the click of a button,” said Dr Chikwana.
He said the digital platform was first rolled out in May 2022 when it was launched by President Mnangagwa in Harare for the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, and the Commercial Division of the High Court.
“In February 2023, the second phase of the launch of IECMS was done in the Labour Court and the Administrative Court, which are our specialised courts in the country. Later that year in November, we moved to the General Division of the High Court and the Office of the Sheriff under phase three of the digitisation process and now we’ve turned our focus of the fourth phase, which is the digitisation of our Magistrates Courts.
“Magistrates’ Courts are in all corners of the country, so we decided to deploy IECMS on a province-by-province basis,” he said.
Dr Chikwana noted that the IECMS model will limit physical attendance to file cases, track court records, and give witness testimonials, among other procedures.
“From the comfort of your homes, business, work offices, even from your mine or maize fields, one will be able to file a case, track a court case and give witness testimonials by using IECMS.
“We’re trying to do away the current set up where people crowd the courts for simple procedures that can be done at the palm of your hands using a smart phone, iPad, laptop or computer,” he said.
“IECMS is part of efforts to improve efficiency and ensure that cases are handled without unnecessary delays.”
In the longer term, the JSC plans to establish additional e-filing facilities at selected police stations and chiefs’ homesteads to improve access to justice, particularly for people in rural areas. Anyone who intends to use the new digital system simply needs a registered user account, a smartphone or computer, stable internet connectivity, and electricity to charge their gadgets.
“One should be a registered user of IECMS to access the digital platform and all you need is a smart phone, laptop, iPad, tablet or computer. IECMS is a web-based platform so it needs stable internet to navigate the system. One must also have electricity to charge their gadgets.”
