Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike
PROSECUTOR-GENERAL Justice Loyce Matanda-Moyo has called for the prosecution of cases in time, as they are facing challenges in locating litigants and witnesses for trial at the Special High Court Circuit set in Midlands Province.
The special courts were set up in Gweru and Gokwe to clear a surging backlog in murder cases in the province.
Commenting after a review meeting with stakeholders on the special courts was held in Gweru last week, Justice Matanda-Moyo highlighted the importance of prosecuting cases timeously.
She expressed hope that, going forward, other provinces will take a leaf from the Midlands Province.
“Cases must be tried speedily, and the victims of crime must get closure,” Justice Matanda-Moyo said.
“Cases must be tried while witnesses and the accused persons are still available because what happens is that some cases could not be tried because the accused persons could not be located or because the witnesses themselves had also moved on.
“People are highly mobile. Going forward, we want to avoid such things. All cases must be tried as quickly as possible while the events are still fresh in the minds of the witnesses and while the accused persons and the witnesses themselves are still around so that we do not struggle with locating them.”
Between September 9 and 27, 2024, the circuit court completed 137 out of a target of 150 cases.
It also completed 150 murder cases between January 20 and February 7, 2025.
Gokwe High Court Circuit completed 40 cases between May 12 and 24, 2025, while Gweru Circuit had finalised 37 out of the targeted 40 during the same period.
