GWERU City Council has turned down a request by the Judiciary Services Commission (JSC) to
provide a building in a high-density suburb for the establishment of a Magistrates Court although
council has refuted the claims saying it is still waiting for the former to get back to them on the site
they had offered.
Speaking to journalists during the introduction of the Integrated Electronic Case Management
System, JSC secretary Walter Chikwana said although other local authorities had responded
favourably, Gweru had declined.
Chikwana said the stance by Gweru was disturbing as the move was aimed at benefiting residents by
bringing justice delivery to their doorstep.
“It has become necessary because of rural to urban migration to establish courts in residential areas
so that we avoid having members of the public travelling all the way from high density areas going
into town to access the nearest court.
“Here in Gweru, we would have wanted to have a court in Mkoba and Senga rather than people
having to travel to town to access the Magistrates Court and the Labour Court,” he said.
GCC spokesperson Vimbai Chingwaramusee said it was not true that council turned down the JSC.
"We didn't turn them down but the building they had identified is a beerhall which we as a local
authority thought was meant for recreational purposes.
"We thought it was prudent to give them land we took them on a tour and they identified land and
they said they were going to come back to us but up to now they have not come back.
"We are still waiting for them…we are for progress and having a magistrates court close to the
people is a development that we applaud and can't deny that," Chingwaramusee said.
Chikwana said the JSC had started setting up courts in residential areas as Epworth, Bulawayo and
Mutare local authorities had embraced the concept.
“The process is going on very well…but I can also tell you that it is dependent on the cooperation
from local authorities in terms of us accessing land and buildings that we can rehabilitate for us to
have those courts.
“We have had good cooperation from Epworth, which responded to our request and we have
already constructed a court, which we hope will be opened end of February.
“We have also engaged Bulawayo City Council and we have now secured two stands where we are
going to have courthouses in Cowdry Park and Nkulumani.
“We have engaged Mutare City Council and we expect to have a positive response, but
unfortunately we have not been successful with Gweru City Council,” he said.
The JSC secretary said their engagements with GCC have not been successful.
“Our first request was declined but we are hopeful that with time they will come back after they
would have realised that what we are doing is public service for the residents to benefit.
He said they are going start construction of a courthouse in Cowdry Park soon.
Chikwana said the decentralisation of courts was in line with government policy on access to justice.
On the establishment of a High Court in the Midlands, Chikwana said the plan is in place. High Courts
are available in Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Mutare, and Chinhoyi. Construction of a High Court is
currently underway in Gwanda, Matabeleland South.
While speaking during the 695th GCC ordinary council meeting in September last year, the city’s
acting Town Clerk Vakai Chikwekwe advised council to embrace the idea as failing to do so would
see the JSC taking the project elsewhere.
Councillors Albert Chirau and Charles Chikozho of Wards 11 and 10 respectively had also supported
the setting up of a Magistrates Court in Mkoba.
