Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza [email protected]
GOVERNMENT’S plans to decentralise the court system and establish more criminal courts in all highly populated suburbs to improve access to justice and addressing the high crime rates in those areas is taking shape in Cowdray Park where a magistrate courts is at 52 percent completion.
A new contractor — Green Home Construction — has taken over the construction of the Cowdray Park Magistrate Courts after the previous contractor had their contract terminated for poor performance.
Speaking during a tour to check on progress last Friday, project manager Mr Admire Chitombe told a delegation led by Special Advisor to the President responsible for monitoring and implementation of
Government programmes and projects, Dr Joram Gumbo, that the original contractor was paid US$559 552.
“The construction of the Cowdray Park Magistrates Court was initially awarded to Greenfrost Construction at a cost of US$1 887 207 and the project commenced on 6 June 2023 with the contractual completion date set for December 2025,” he said.
Mr Chitombe said the performance of Greenfrost Construction was later assessed and found to be unsatisfactory.
“Despite efforts by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to capacitate the contractor and facilitate improved performance, the contractor failed to demonstrate capacity to undertake the work at the required rate. At the time the contract was terminated the project was at 30 percent completion and US$559 552 had been paid,” said Mr Chitombe.
He said the completion date had been moved to 2027.
“Following the termination of the original contract, the outstanding works were subsequently awarded to Green Home Construction which agreed to complete the work at a cost of US$1 099 390. The new completion date is now March 2027,” said Mr Chitombe.
The workers on site include a site manager, a quantity surveyor, four carpenters, a steel fixer, one welder, bricklayer, a mechanic, an electrician, a dumper and mixer operator, two drivers, three bricklayers and two assistants.
The JSC is targeting to open six new courts before the end of the year as it accelerates the expansion of the justice delivery system, with particular focus on bringing courts closer to communities in high-density areas.
The programme includes new courts in Mabvuku, Harare while major developments are also underway in Gwanda, Kwekwe, Beitbridge and Guruve.
The Commission has already secured land for similar courts in Mkoba, Gweru and Sakubva, Mutare and construction is expected to start soon.
The biggest development is the multi-purpose Gwanda Court in Matabeleland South, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The facility which is now at roof level, will house the High Court, the Labour Court, the Sheriff’s Office and the Magistrates’ Court, making it one of the largest court complexes in the country.
According to the 2022 Population Census preliminary results, Cowdray Park (Ward 28) with 75 070 people is the second most populous urban ward in the country after Harare’s Ward 43 (Budiriro), which has 89 287 people hence the decision by Government to build Magistrates’ Court there. Cowdray Park suburb’s population is bigger than that of Gwanda Town, which has 27 143 residents and Hwange town which has 40 241 residents.
