Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve Victoria Falls Reporter
The introduction of the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) in magistrates’ courts has been hailed by residents in Victoria Falls, who acknowledged the enhanced efficiency and user-friendliness of the new digital system.
One of the early beneficiaries, Mr Frank Chikosi, took advantage of the system just days after its launch, filing a letter of demand at the Victoria Falls Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning following a car accident.
Expressing his satisfaction, Mr Chikosi described the process as seamless and remarkably quick.
“Today I came here to file a case, and to my surprise, everything has changed. It is so digitalised, and the system was very efficient, very easy. In less than five minutes, my case was absolutely uploaded online, and all the procedures that were needed for me to put my case, it was just a click of a button,” he said.
Mr Chikosi said he had been struggling to get compensation from the individual responsible for damaging his car and decided to seek legal intervention.
“So the system is very efficient, the process is very quick, and it was just a demand, a letter of demand. Someone had crashed into my car and they are failing or giving excuses for not paying. I thought I needed some help. I needed help with legal justice, and the whole process was so efficient and easy for me. I am really grateful for this kind of innovation happening,” he said.
Another court user, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also commended the new system, stating that it had drastically reduced the time and paperwork previously associated with filing cases.
“Before, you would spend hours in queues, filling out forms and waiting for manual processing. Now, everything is done electronically, and the staff are very helpful in guiding us through the process,” the user said.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has been rolling out the IECMS in phases, with Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland North being the latest beneficiaries.
JSC Secretary Mr Walter Chikwana recently visited Victoria Falls and Hwange to assess the system’s implementation and expressed satisfaction with its progress.
“We have been communicating the messages since the beginning of the year that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is now moving into the fourth phase of the implementation of the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS). This fourth phase involves moving and deploying the system into the magistrate courts,” said Mr Chikwana.
He explained that the two provinces were selected for this phase, ensuring that all courts in the regions are now fully digitised.
“Last week, I was in Hwange and Victoria Falls, finalising our preparations. All our courts in Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland North are now under the IECMS system. They are all now digitised. When you want to file documents, when you want to file litigations, when you want to interact with the courts and other players in the justice administrative system, you will now do it through the digital system that we have deployed into the courts,” he said.
