Zvikomborero Parafini
THE roll-out of the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) will help plug loopholes that have enabled corrupt practices within court registries, including missing court files, backdated stamps and forged signatures.
Speaking at an IECMS stakeholders engagement held at the Harare Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Judicial Service Commission Secretary Dr Walter Chikwana said the digital system would leave an electronic trail of court processes, making it increasingly difficult for records to disappear or processes to be manipulated.
Dr Chikwana took stakeholders through a practical demonstration of the system, explaining how the platform works and how court users will interact with the justice delivery system electronically.
The Judiciary had over the years, received complaints involving missing files and dockets, backdated court stamps and forged signatures within court registries.
The IECMS is expected to close those loopholes by moving court processes from traditional paper-based systems onto a digital platform where activities can be tracked.
It also reduces face-to-face interaction between court officials and litigants for routine processes and enables users to independently follow the progress of their cases.
Through the web-based platform, litigants, lawyers and other court users can electronically file documents, pay court fees, track the progress of cases and participate in virtual hearings.
Dr Chikwana demonstrated how users navigate the platform as the JSC moves towards completing the digitalisation of magistrates’ courts across the country.
The digitalisation programme began in 2022 and has progressively been extended from the superior courts to magistrates’ courts.
Eight provinces have so far been covered under the magistrates’ court roll-out, with Harare Metropolitan and Bulawayo Metropolitan being brought on board in the final stages of the programme.
The two metropolitan provinces were left until the latter stages because of the large number of court users, cases and JSC employees concentrated in the two largest urban areas.
The JSC has targeted December 31 for the rollout in the remaining areas, with the system expected to be fully operational from January 1.
Beyond curbing irregularities, IECMS is expected to improve accountability and efficiency within the judiciary by creating electronic records of activities conducted on the platform.
The system is also designed to reduce the need for litigants to repeatedly travel to court to file documents, make payments or enquire about the progress of their cases.
To cater for court users without internet access or electronic gadgets, the JSC is also establishing e-filing offices and free internet hubs to assist members of the public to access the platform.
The engagement brought together stakeholders from across the justice delivery system and local government.
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume and Harare Chief Public Prosecutor Tafadzwa Mupariwa were among those in attendance, alongside officials from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service, Zimbabwe Republic Police and members of the public.
The engagement forms part of the JSC’s wider awareness drive as it prepares stakeholders and court users for the final stages of the IECMS roll-out. Proceedings were also punctuated by entertainment, with musicians Killer T, Sugar Sugar, Taruvinga Machokota and Ras Pompy performing for stakeholders.
