Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
THE construction of Gwanda Magistrates Court is set to be completed in December this year, as part of the Judicial Service Commission’s (JSC) transformative drive to enhance the country’s justice system.
Speaking during a recent tour of the construction site, Chief Justice Luke Malaba said construction works have gathered pace following timeous release of funds by Government.
He said as the JSC is rolling out the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS), a structure like the Gwanda Court Complex fits well into this transformative drive.
Justice Malaba said the completion of the court is in line with President Mnangagwa’s policy of leaving no one and no place behind.
He said an effective justice system is crucial to the nation’s development.
“I’m here today to assess progress in the construction of the Gwanda Magistrates Court, to ensure that it’s moving at an acceptable and satisfactory speed,” said Justice Malaba.
“I have been here several times and I’m glad that there is some progress, which has been taking place under the project.
“We are hoping to have the structure completed by the end of the year. I will be back here in December and by then I expect to find this project complete.”
The Chief Justice said construction of the court has come at a crucial time when the judiciary is undergoing transformation.
He said they have intensified the process of having high courts in all provinces as part of efforts to ensure an enhanced justice system.
“The judiciary has been undergoing a lot of reforms for the past seven to eight years. We have been on a trajectory to transform the judiciary. We have identified various areas of change, among them being the digitisation of the court system through the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS).
“Having such a court structure as the one, which is under construction in Gwanda fits in well with this transformative process,” he said.
“This is one of the biggest court complexes that have been built so far in the judiciary system. It will house nine court rooms as well the high court.”
The Gwanda Magistrate’s Complex, which is a state of the art building is expected to accommodate approximately 500 Government workers once it is complete.
It will house all relevant departments within the court system including a High Court, which means that high level offences like murder and divorce will be handled locally. This will ensure the timeous completion of cases and an effective justice system.
The Gwanda Court Complex will also house a magistrate’s court and regional court.
Matabeleland South Public Works provincial director, Engineer Sijabuliso Ncube said of late the pace of the project has significantly improved due to an improvement in the disbursement of funds.
Justice Malaba said the project will now move to roofing stage as the structural component of the building is complete.
“If we continue receiving funds at this pace we will manage to complete roofing by end of September.
“Pending are the civil works, which we have already started. Mechanical works are also pending,” he said.
“At the rate we have been receiving funds we expect to complete the project by end of year.”
The construction of the Gwanda Magistrates Court began in June 2004 but works came to a stop in 2008 due to financial constraints.
The project resumed in 2019 but momentarily stopped and later resumed in full scale in April 2022 after Government allocated resources.
The Gwanda Court Complex is at 60 percent completion and is expected to house the country’s sixth high court.
For the past 20 years, the magistrates’ court operations are housed at the district development co-ordinators offices where officials have been operating from limited space, which has negative impact on service delivery.
The new court project remains one of Government’s top priorities. — @DubeMatutu
Bongani Ndlovu