Government avails stationery to chiefs

Runesu Gwidi in MASVINGO
The Judicial Services Commission (JSC) says it has mobilised resources for use by traditional leaders in the administration of justice at community level, an official has said.

The latest development follows recent concerns from traditional leaders, mainly chiefs that they were having challenges keeping records due to shortages of stationery.

JSC secretary Mr Walter Chikwana told stakeholders during a tour of the refurbished Gutu magistrate’s courts on Friday last week, that Government was working on a raft of measures to improve the administration of justice at all levels of society.

He said among other things, the commission had since sourced stationery for traditional leaders’ courts.

Mr Chikwana said the support to the traditional leaders where the delivery of justice was concerned was testimony of the symbiotic relationship between the Judiciary and traditional courts.

“The commission is not there to supplant traditional courts,” he said.

“Magistrates are not usurping the duties of traditional leaders. Their functional roles supplement each other.

“It is therefore our clarion call as JSC that the relationship between chiefs and magistrates must be symbiotic.

“We have availed stationery which is ready for collection at all magistrate courts, by chiefs to enhance efficiency at their respective traditional courtyards.”

Mr Chikwanha said the commission will also train chiefs on how to handle different cases at their traditional courts.

He said they soon be streamlining the training programmes to capacitate chiefs in their trial of cases.

“But take note that we are not going to train customs but how their courts should relate to those of magistrates,” he said.

Chief Gutu (Amon Masanganise) applauded the commission for strengthening their relationship with traditional leaders.

“It is a welcome development for JSC to support traditional leaders. This strengthens our relationship with our local magistrates,” he said.

Several chiefs who attended the event thanked JSC for recognising the role they played in enhancing social cohesion and combating crime.

The event was also attended by the acting Chief Magistrate, Mr Munamato Mutevedzi, members of the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the JSC staff, among others.