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Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
Zimbabwe cannot develop if there is no access to justice, according to Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.
He said this recently after touring the construction of the Chinhoyi Court building, which is now 95 percent complete and is expected to open its doors next week.
“As you might know, we used to have a concentration of courts in a few areas and crowded regional courts. I am excited by the progress made thus far,” said Minister Ziyambi.
“This facility is spacious and the workers will be accommodated decently and this is the thrust that we are looking at as a Government to say that in terms of the National Development Strategy One (NDS1), how do we move forward?
“As a country, we cannot develop if access to justice is not there.”
He applauded the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for its drive to increase the number of courts in the country despite operating on a shoe-string budget.
“JSC is moving forward to ensuring that we realise more access to justice not only in Mashonaland West but everywhere in the country using very limited resources.
“I know that there is work to improve access to justice by going to other areas and this is what is happening here,” he said.
Minister Ziyambi was accompanied during the tour by Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland West, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, Judicial Service Commission secretary, Walter Chikwanha and chief magistrate, Mr Munamato Mutevedzi.
He said the official opening of the court to the public was earmarked around mid-May after indications from the contractors that construction would have been completed by end of this month.
An official with the main contractor, Hua Long Construction, said a few touch-ups including the installation of doors and painting, were some of the areas that must be done before handing over the building to the JSC.
Minister Ziyambi proposed that the contractor must work day and night to meet the deadline.
The new Chinhoyi Court will become fourth after Mutare, Masvingo and Bulawayo, after Harare, to offer High Court seating, and the country’s second-biggest after the Rotten Row Court in the capital.
“We are excited that all our provincial capitals have a High Court and we will have one in Chinhoyi at this facility, which also means that people from Mashonaland West will not travel to Harare to access justice.
In her welcome remarks, Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said the new court will bring convenience to the people of Mashonaland West, adding that it dovetails with the Second Republic’s devolution and decentralisation thrust of bringing basic services to the people.
She said President Mnangagwa’s Government availed funds for the completion of the building, whose progress had stalled for about 15 years.
Mr Chikwanha said the JSC was ready to occupy the building once completed, and pleaded with Government to release funds for the perfection of construction work.
“We want to thank the Treasury that has solely supported the construction of the building. We have already been provided funding, procured furniture for all the offices that are here and paid for furniture and equipment for all eight courtrooms,” he said.
Delivery of other court paraphernalia is expected within two weeks.
Online Reporter