Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
THE gavel is going digital! The Judiciary Services Commission (JSC) has begun rolling out its high-tech justice system to 16 magistrates’ courts across Matabeleland South and Masvingo, as Zimbabwe races toward a fully digitised judiciary.
Known as the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS), the initiative will see traditional court files replaced with sleek electronic systems allowing litigants to file and track cases online, communicate with courts remotely, and skip the paper trail completely.
This marks the fourth phase of the nationwide digital justice drive. Courts in Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland North have already gone live with the system at the start of July.
Beitbridge Provincial Magistrate and Regional Courts are next in line, with a digital switch set for 1 October. Technicians have already hit the ground installing essential hardware ahead of the launch.
Speaking after engaging with stakeholders including lawyers, police, court officials and the public, JSC Secretary Walter Chikwanha said the digital revolution was here to stay.
“Under the IECMS, you can file pleadings, track progress, and engage with the court from your phone or computer,” he said. “This will bring unmatched convenience and efficiency to the justice system.”
To avoid excluding those without internet access or smart devices, help desks will be set up at all participating courts. More e-filing kiosks will even be placed at traditional leaders’ homes to assist villagers in remote areas.
Chikwanha stressed that only registered users would be able to access the system, and encouraged Beitbridge residents to register early.
He revealed that courts would use two internet service providers to guard against downtime and ensure smooth operations. Specialised teams in cybersecurity, software engineering and ICT—numbering over 300 experts—are on hand to defend the system from hacking.
“No successful attacks have been recorded since we went live in 2022,” he said. “We also took notes from Rwanda’s justice digitisation model and improved on their weak points to suit the Zimbabwean context.”
The system will also soon use Artificial Intelligence to help with local language translation and court transcription services.
With lower courts now being digitised, the JSC hopes to ease pressure on magistrates who handle the bulk of the country’s court cases, while aligning Zimbabwe with its Vision 2030 goal of a modern, efficient judiciary.
The IECMS is expected to enhance transparency, cut delays, and reduce the risk of files getting lost—while also limiting unnecessary human contact in the evolving legal landscape.
Communities already using the digital courts have welcomed the development, with early feedback calling the system user-friendly and effective.
Justice in Zimbabwe is now just a click away.
