Online Reporter
Tongai Mashonga, [email protected]
THE Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has intensified preparations for the rollout of the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) in Midlands Province, with a public awareness campaign underway ahead of the platform’s official launch on October 1.
The digital system, which is already operational in several provinces, is expected to transform justice delivery by allowing litigants to file cases electronically, access court records online and participate in virtual hearings.
Speaking during the awareness campaign in Kwekwe this week, JSC secretary Dr Walter Chikwana urged members of the public to register on the platform before its rollout to ensure they can easily access court services.
“Every one of us is a possible visitor to the courts. You should register on IECMS because you don’t know when you are going to need the courts,” he said.
“You don’t necessarily come to court because you have committed an offence or because you are a witness. You may come to court because you are a victim of crime. You may need to come to court because you want to wed or register an estate.”
To register, users are required to provide basic credentials, including a national identity number and an email address.
Under the IECMS, litigants will be able to electronically file summonses, applications and appeals, monitor the progress of cases online and attend some court proceedings virtually, reducing the need for physical visits to court.
Dr Chikwana said JSC staff in Kwekwe had been mobilised to spearhead the public education campaign and assist residents in understanding the new digital platform.
“Members of the JSC are our ambassadors and torch bearers of IECMS. They are going to pick the mantle and lead the publicity campaign in Kwekwe District, interacting with members of the public about the beauty of IECMS,” he said.
“The expectation I have is that they will show enthusiasm and willingness to learn and be trained on how to navigate through the IECMS because they are the people who will be using it extensively as they interact with court users.”
Dr Chikwana said the rollout marks another milestone in the Judiciary’s digital transformation programme, which seeks to improve efficiency, transparency and access to justice.He said one of the major benefits of the system is that it eliminates reliance on paper records, making it difficult for court files or dockets to disappear.
“We have had challenges in our courts where we would receive complaints of court documents disappearing from court files. Court files would disappear and this frustrated the progression of matters and the management of cases,” said Dr Chikwana.
“However, with the introduction of IECMS, it will be virtually impossible for anyone to steal dockets because they will be in digital format. You can’t steal the records or court documents.”
Dr Chikwana said the platform has built-in backup systems to ensure court records remain secure even if attempts are made to delete them.
“As long as documents have been filed into the courts, they have a backup system. If someone attempts to delete them, we can easily restore them,” he said.
Dr Chikwana said the electronic system is also expected to curb corruption and strengthen accountability within the justice delivery system as the Judiciary continues implementing technology-driven reforms across the country.
