Emmanuel Kafe
RESIDENTS of four high-density suburbs will soon access judicial services within their communities following the commissioning of Zimbabwe’s first mobile court, a development expected to reduce pressure on conventional courts and lower the cost of accessing justice.
The facility, commissioned by Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza in Harare yesterday, will initially serve Glen Norah, Glen View, Budiriro and Southlea Park, with the aim of easing the growing caseload at Mbare Magistrates’ Court.
Under the arrangement, the mobile court will operate on a rotational basis, visiting police stations in the four suburbs once a week.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Chief Justice Gwaunza said the initiative was designed to address the practical challenges faced by people who travel long distances and incur transport costs to attend court proceedings.
“For many people, access to a court still involves travelling considerable distances, paying transport costs and taking time away from work, family responsibilities or the pursuit of a livelihood,” Chief Justice Gwaunza said.
“These burdens can be particularly difficult for people with limited means, older persons and persons with disabilities. For some, attending court requires arrangements they can scarcely afford.”
She said taking judicial services into communities would give practical effect to the constitutional right of access to justice while ensuring cases are handled without undue delays.
“A court that people cannot reach cannot fully serve them. The mobile court takes the court to the people, rather than requiring the people always to come to the court,” she said.
The initiative is also expected to enhance the efficiency of the justice delivery system by reducing missed court appearances, postponements and the costs associated with transporting accused persons and court documents.
Chief Justice Gwaunza said bringing proceedings closer to communities would make it easier for witnesses to attend court, thereby reducing delays caused by their failure to appear.
The arrangement will allow Mbare Magistrates’ Court to concentrate on its remaining cases while improving the utilisation of public resources.
The programme forms part of the Judicial Service Commission’s 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, which seeks to establish a mobile court in every province by 2030.
Prosecutor-General Justice Loyce Matanda-Moyo described the development as a home-grown solution that would improve access to justice while strengthening public confidence in the country’s criminal justice system.
She said taking court proceedings into communities would help demystify judicial processes and address misconceptions about how the criminal justice system operates.
“For many, our criminal courts remain abstract; all they know is shaped by what they see,” Justice Matanda-Moyo said.
“Often, they see an accused person being arrested, then imprisoned for years or released on bail, without understanding the process.
“That vacuum is filled by suspicion and rumour, sometimes even perceptions of corruption.
“Mobile courts will allow communities an opportunity to witness justice in motion within a stone’s throw of their homes.”
Justice Matanda-Moyo added that the initiative would particularly benefit vulnerable groups, including women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities, who often face difficulties travelling to conventional courts.
She cautioned, however, that efforts to speed up the disposal of cases should not undermine the rights of accused persons or compromise the fairness of proceedings.
“The quality of justice at the mobile courts must never be sacrificed for numerical performance,” she said.
