Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba and Nyore Madzianike
FOR years, Zimbabwe’s criminal justice system has groaned under the weight of delays, bureaucracy and mounting case backlogs.
Victims of crime waited months — sometimes years — for closure, while accused persons languished in remand prison with no clear trial date in sight. Justice, it seemed, had become an elusive promise.
But a new chapter may be unfolding.
This week in Harare, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, correctional services and judicial officials gathered under one roof, not to lament the problem but to act.
The meeting sought to discuss, among other things, Zimbabwe’s newly launched Fast-Track Court System, a justice reform initiative that stakeholders believe will breathe life back into the country’s justice machinery.
The workshop, spearheaded by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), brought together representatives from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Prosecutor-General’s Office, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS), all key players in what officials are now calling a “justice value chain.”
Police Commissioner-General Stephen Mutamba voiced unequivocal support for the Fast-Track Court System, describing it as “a critical component of crime management and the timely delivery of justice”.
“As the Zimbabwe Republic Police, we welcome the concept of Fast-Track Courts as they go a long way in enhancing the timeous delivery of justice,” he said.
“This is a critical component of crime management which is our Constitutional mandate. When suspects are brought before the courts and quickly get justice, this has an enabling effect in deterring would-be offenders while also quickly bringing closure to crime victims.”
What is changing?
Under the new approach, criminal cases in magistrates’ courts are expected to be resolved within 72 hours of being filed.
This represents an ambitious but deliberate push to combat legal inefficiencies and restore public trust.
Before the fast-track initiative, Zimbabwe’s criminal justice process followed a non-time-bound, fragmented model marked by significant procedural and logistical delays.
The system was characterised by slow docket movement between police, prosecution and the courts.
Court congestion and case overload for prosecutors and magistrates was also common.
Critically, the lack of inter-agency communication led to bureaucratic bottlenecks that inordinately delayed the conclusion of cases.
Chief Justice Luke Malaba, in his remarks, noted that the decision was driven by widespread concern over court delays and the erosion of confidence in judicial processes.
“There has been a growing concern that public safety is endangered,” he said.
“I have spoken about that every time; that is, where there is justice, there is order, there is peace and that is why we are busy building courts. That is why we are having all these reforms that we are undertaking, including this fast-track system, because we are concerned about the response of the public.
“If we don’t answer to the public outcry for security of the ordinary person, we are endangering public confidence in the system of criminal justice.”
Comm Gen Mutamba said the police have already put in place mechanisms for the smooth implementation of the new system.
“The necessary communication has been made with all police officers as a way to ensure a standardised implementation,” he said.
“More so, the fact that the success of the Fast-Track Court System is highly dependent on the collective effort of different players requires that workshops of this nature be conducted. Such workshops give us opportunities to share information in terms of the best operational approaches while also helping each other identify gaps that require improvement.”
Administrative backbone
Behind the scenes, a complex framework is being rolled out to make the fast-track system a reality.
JSC Secretary Mr Walter Chikwana said national, provincial and district-level committees to undergird the new approach are already operational.
These include representatives from all key institutions — from magistrates and prosecutors to police commanders and ZACC officials.
“The national committee is reposed with the mandate of putting up policies, setting up policies for fast-track, which has already been done,” he said.
“It is composed of the heads of institutions that are involved in the fast-track system.”
Mr Chikwana said they have cascaded administration of the fast-track system to provinces, where provincial committees were set up.
“Remember in a province you may have maybe five or six districts, so we have five or six courthouses. Essentially we have a courthouse in almost every district.
“So in the district, we have the Officer Commanding Zimbabwe Republic Police, Officer Commanding Prisons, provincial magistrate and ZACC manager for that province. Then we have put together an inspectorate team whose role is simply to monitor successes, to monitor progress, to check whether inspectorate courts are functioning well in all the respective provinces.”
Breaking down silos
Among those backing the reform is Prosecutor-General Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo, who said the fast-track system is a strategic weapon in the fight against corruption.
“This is about delivering justice that is not only fair but also timely, ensuring that justice delayed does not become justice denied,” she said.
This comprehensive multi-agency participation is not merely symbolic; it is the absolute bedrock upon which the success of Fast-Track Courts will be built.
“Our ability to expedite justice effectively, without compromising due process or the rights of any individual, hinges entirely on our seamless inter-agency cooperation, breaking down traditional silos and fostering a truly integrated approach.”
Logistical support
Stakeholders acknowledged that enthusiasm alone will not carry the system forward. ZPCS Commissioner-General Moses Chihobvu, represented by Deputy Commissioner Special Ndanga, called for greater logistical support — including more transport vehicles, communication infrastructure and IT systems to ensure seamless roll out of the new system.
“We recognise that implementation of the fast-track court is not merely an administrative challenge of society,” he said.
“It requires a coordinated national effort and widespread public awareness.
“To this end, we suggest that Zimbabweans join the awareness campaigns across all provinces of Zimbabwe to ensure that the citizens are informed of the situation in Zimbabwe and understand how it improves access to the government.”
ZACC chairperson Mr Michael Reza, who was represented by Commissioner Ms Meme Rumbidzai Zvimba, urged stakeholders to desist from pointing fingers at each other and work together.
Peter Tanyanyiwa