Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has launched its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, outlining an ambitious roadmap aimed at strengthening the quality, inclusivity and sustainability of judicial service delivery.
The Strategic Plan was officially launched by Chief Justice Luke Malaba on the sidelines of the 2026 Official Opening of the Legal Year last week, marking the commencement of a new five-year strategy following the expiry of the Commission’s 2021–2025 Strategic Plan on 31 December 2025.
In his address, Chief Justice Malaba said the new Strategic Plan was a product of extensive institutional reflection and wide-ranging consultations involving judges, magistrates, heads of departments, judicial staff and key justice sector stakeholders who interact with the courts on a daily basis.
“The Strategic Plan represents a shared vision for the future of the Judiciary and provides a roadmap that will guide its operations as it plays its role in the fulfilment of the national Vision 2030,” he said.
Chief Justice Malaba said the planning process was deliberately aligned with the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and relevant regional and international instruments that promote the rule of law, access to justice and good governance.
He noted that the Plan responds candidly to challenges identified through a comprehensive situational analysis, including pressures on human capital, staff wellness, institutional capacity and the long-term sustainability of judicial reforms.
The 2026–2030 Strategic Plan organises the work of the Judicial Service around clear priority areas, including improving the quality of adjudication and court administration, expanding access to justice and accelerating digital transformation.
It strengthens customary and local justice systems, enhances governance and performance management and safeguards the welfare, wellness and security of judicial officers and staff.
Chief Justice Malaba said performance management and technology had been identified as critical cross-cutting enablers across all strategic priorities and will be applied lawfully and scientifically to ensure accountability and efficiency within the Judicial Service.
He said the Plan sets out concrete outcomes and measurable targets, including increased access to justice for the population, improved case disposal rates and the complete digitisation of courts over the five-year period.
“In substance, the Strategic Plan is a contract between the Judicial Service and the people of Zimbabwe for the period 2026 to 2030,” Chief Justice Malaba said, adding that it provides the framework against which the Judiciary’s future achievements and challenges will be assessed.
He acknowledged the contributions of various stakeholders in the development of the Strategic Plan.
Copies of the Strategic Plan were distributed to stakeholders attending the launch ceremony and to court stations across the country where similar events were held.
The launch of the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan comes at a time when the Judiciary is intensifying efforts to modernise court operations, enhance public confidence and ensure that justice delivery remains responsive to the needs of the people of Zimbabwe.
In infrastructure development, a major milestone was the completion and commissioning of the Mutawatawa Magistrates Court on 4 April 2025 by the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission, Dr Walter Chikwanha.
The new courthouse comprises a courtroom, offices, a cell block, ablution facilities and a waiting area, and has been designed to support the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS).
Its completion has brought justice services closer to local communities and enhanced access to court services.
Significant progress was also recorded on other key infrastructure projects.
Construction of the Kwekwe Court Complex, which will consist of four courtrooms and 18 offices, advanced substantially, with the superstructure and roofing completed.
Finishing works are currently underway, and the complex is expected to be commissioned in the first half of this year.
Chief Justice Malaba revealed that the Kwekwe complex will pave the way for the establishment of the sixth seat of the High Court at Kwekwe.
Midlands Province has experienced a high volume of criminal and civil matters, many of which are currently heard at the Bulawayo High Court.
The new High Court seat at Kwekwe is expected to ease congestion in Bulawayo while improving access to justice in the Midlands.
He emphasised that the use of magistrates’ court complexes to house High Court operations does not preclude the construction of standalone High Court buildings in the future, should resources permit.
Progress was also reported at the Mabvuku–Tafara Magistrates Court, where construction of a new complex comprising 18 offices and associated facilities is underway.
The courthouse is expected to be commissioned by the second quarter of this year6.
At Gwanda, construction of a court complex with eight courtrooms continued steadily and is expected to be completed during the course of the year.
Meanwhile, work at the Cowdray Park Court Complex progressed, although delays were encountered due to poor contractor performance, necessitating arrangements for the appointment of a new contractor.
The Commission also invested in infrastructure supporting specialised court functions.
At Beitbridge, the magistrates court was extended to include an additional courtroom, civil court facilities and offices to house an IECMS hub.
In Bulawayo, expansion works at the Cape to Cairo building continued to create additional offices and a boardroom for the JSC Secretariat, as well as a Mediation Centre for the Southern Region.
Similar developments are underway at the Sheriff’s infrastructure in Harare.
Alongside physical infrastructure development, the Judiciary made notable advances in the rollout of the IECMS to magistrates courts.
In 2025, the Commission implemented Phase 4.1 and Phase 4.2 of the IECMS rollout, marking a decisive shift towards a fully digitised magistrates’ court system.
Phase 4.1, launched on 1 July 2025, integrated magistrates courts in Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland North onto the IECMS platform.
This was followed by Phase 4.2 on 1 October 2025, which extended the system to magistrates courts in Masvingo and Matabeleland South.
Ten court stations in Masvingo and six in Matabeleland South were digitised.
As a result, all Superior Courts and magistrates courts in the four provinces are now operating on a digital platform, enabling electronic filing, case tracking, virtual hearings and improved communication with litigants and legal practitioners.
The digital transformation has reduced delays associated with paper-based processes, eliminated geographical barriers and enhanced transparency and accountability in court record management.
The rollout was accompanied by intensive training programmes for magistrates and court staff to ensure effective utilisation of the IECMS.
According to Chief Justice Malaba, these measures have strengthened the capacity of lower courts to manage growing caseloads, improved turnaround times for judgments and orders, and enhanced court users’ ability to track their cases electronically.
Looking ahead, the Commission will proceed with Phase 4.3 of the IECMS implementation, which will see magistrates courts in Mashonaland East and Manicaland digitised during the first half of the year.
This next phase will bring the Judiciary closer to a fully national electronic case management system that places digital justice within reach of communities across all provinces.
Tinaye Agere