Online Reporter
Ray Bande-Mutare Bureau
THE Judicial Services Commission has embarked on a whirlwind tour of Manicaland and Mashonaland East provinces to raise awareness about the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) and to gather input from stakeholders.
The initiative comes as the implementation programme enters Phase 4.3.
Yesterday, JSC Secretary Mr Walter Chikwana addressed gatherings at the Chipinge, Chimanimani, and Mutare Magistrates Courts, focusing on the benefits and functionality of IECMS.
This system represents a significant shift towards the online or digital handling of court cases, facilitating processes from filing court papers to the final resolution of cases.
Its implementation is in line with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and the Vision 2030 blueprints, aimed at easing access to justice across the country.
In his address at Chimanimani Magistrates Court, Mr Chikwana discussed the history of IECMS’s introduction and its subsequent phases of implementation over the years.
“In years gone by, precisely in 2022, we introduced the digitisation of the courts in our superior courts, namely the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, and the Commercial Court,” he said.
“We placed these courts under IECMS,” he said.
As the programme evolved, IECMS was expanded to the Labour Court and Administrative Court, followed by its integration into the High Court and the Office of the Sheriff.
The progression constituted Phases 1, 2 and 3 of the digitisation initiative.
The rollout advanced further in July 2025 with the introduction of the system to the Magistrates Courts, beginning with Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland North provinces in Phase 4.1.
The rollout continued to Masvingo and Matabeleland South, which marked Phase 4.2 of the digitisation project.
“For those that listened to the Chief Justice yesterday when he launched the 2026 legal year, he mentioned that the digitisation process is moving ahead.
“He also announced that we are now moving into Manicaland and Mashonaland East provinces with the digitisation process as Phase 4.3,” said Mr Chikwana.
He added that rigorous training programmes were necessary to ensure stakeholders can effectively adopt IECMS in the courts of Manicaland and Mashonaland East.
“So, Manicaland and Mashonaland East are now going to be digitised under Phase 4.3, and the process is going to start on April 1, 2026.
“That is the reason I am here. I am here to share this good news and engage stakeholders on the introduction of the digitisation process here in Manicaland, specifically at Chimanimani Magistrates Court,” he said.
From now until March 31, various programmes will involve meetings with stakeholders and the provision of training sessions on using IECMS.
A team of trainers will arrive in the region to conduct these sessions, ensuring that stakeholders are well-prepared for the forthcoming digital transition.
The team of trainers will travel to Manicaland next Monday and will be there for three days.
The rollout of the IECMS marks a pivotal moment for the Zimbabwean judiciary, promising to enhance efficiency and accessibility in the legal system.
