Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
The ongoing recruitment of magistrates is part of the judiciary’s efforts to strengthen the country’s courts, improve access to justice and address the growing number of cases awaiting trial.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of 25 newly appointed magistrates on Monday, Chief Magistrate Mrs Vongai Guwuriro said the appointments will enhance the capacity of courts across the country and help reduce the existing case backlog.
The 25 comprise 15 male magistrates and 10 female magistrates. She said the newly sworn-in magistrates will be deployed to stations that require additional judicial officers, enabling courts to process cases more efficiently and improve the delivery of justice.
“Over the months we have been swearing in magistrates, this is due to the various forms of attrition that come with operations,” she said.
“We have magistrates who are resigning for several reasons, we have magistrates who are getting promoted, we the decentralisation of courts which also brings the need for more magistrates to the bench.”
Mrs Guwuriro said the capacitation of the bench has necessitated the Judicial Service Commission to continue recruiting magistrates so that all the stations are capacitated.
“We have drug cases which we are receiving in high volumes, that also calls for adequate measures in terms of the bench being ready to deal with the case background,” she said.
Mrs Guwuriro said the Judicial Service Commission is in the process of establishing mobile courts to service urban areas.
