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Gibson Mhaka
THE Government is working to decentralise the court system and establish more criminal courts in all highly populated townships in order to improve access to justice and address the high crime rates in these areas.
Speaking after a tour of the magistrates’ court under construction in Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo on Wednesday last week, Chief Justice Luke Malaba said the building of these courts was meant to decongest city centres.
“We went to Cowdray Park to see the progress of the magistrates’ court construction. The court will have three courtrooms. We’re building it to serve the large population and make justice more accessible to all. I heard there is a population of about 79 000 people in Cowdray Park, that’s a lot.
“Since there are many people, we want to ease pressure on Tredgold Magistrates’ Courts and Western Commonage. As these courts are overwhelmed, some people from these suburbs end up not coming to court and this even discourages people from reporting criminal cases. It’s not only in Cowdray Park, but we are constructing these courts in populated townships like Emganwini and Tafara Mabvuku in Harare,” said CJ Malaba.
He said the population in these townships was ballooning, necessitating the need for more courts.
“Decentralisation of courts also helps reduce the distance travelled by people to access justice. We are taking courts to the people,” CJ Malaba said.
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. Cowdray Park suburb’s population is bigger than that of Gwanda Town which has 27 143 residents and Hwange Local Board (formerly Hwange Town) with 40 241 residents.
Online Reporter