Source: Digital courts transform justice delivery system – herald
Tendai Gukutikwa
Mutare Bureau
THE rollout of the Integrated Electronic Case Management System to magistrates courts is expected to transform Zimbabwe’s justice delivery system by improving efficiency, reducing delays and bringing services closer to citizens across the country.
In an interview in Mutare yesterday on the sidelines of the launch of Phase 4.3 of the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) for Manicaland and Mashonaland East provinces at the Mutare Magistrates Court, Chief Justice Mrs Elizabeth Gwaunza said the digitisation of processes marked a significant milestone for the Judiciary.
She said the initiative was part of ongoing efforts to modernise justice administration and eliminate challenges associated with the traditional paper-based system.
Chief Justice Gwaunza said the electronic platform would enhance delivery and improve access to courts.
“It is going to enhance the process of justice delivery, and it can only improve the system because we are moving away from the paper-based system where people carry documents to court back and forth and so forth and get lost.
“The system is more efficient because it is done digitally. All that one needs is their gadgets in the form of a handset, a phone, a tablet or a computer. It is really bringing justice up to date with what is happening around the world,” she said.
The rollout marks the latest phase of the Judiciary Service Commission’s ongoing digital transformation programme, which has already been implemented in the country’s superior courts, including the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, High Court, Labour Court and Administrative Court.
Chief Justice Gwaunza noted that while the system has been operational in higher courts for several years, extending it to magistrates’ courts was particularly significant because the courts serve the majority of Zimbabweans.
She explained that litigants in superior courts are often represented by legal practitioners who handle court filings and procedural requirements on their behalf.
However, the situation differs at magistrates courts where many litigants appear without legal representation.
“It has been an important process within the higher courts, but the situation is different when we introduce the system at the level of the magistrates’ courts.
“These are the courts that are accessed by the majority of our people who may not have the technology or the know-how, or even possession of the requisite gadgets that are needed,” she said.
Despite these challenges, Chief Justice Gwaunza expressed confidence that the system would ultimately make justice more accessible, especially for people living in remote areas who often face significant travel costs and logistical difficulties when pursuing legal matters.
She said the introduction of electronic filing would allow litigants to initiate and manage court proceedings without having to make repeated journeys to court premises.
“There is also the question of distance for rural litigants. Some may have to travel very long distances to access the court. But with the gadget in hand, if they are able to operate it properly, they do not have to worry about that. They can file through the e-filing system where it is done electronically,” she said.
According to the Chief Justice, the digital platform has the potential to remove many of the obstacles that have historically prevented people from seeking justice.
“A lot of the hardships that rural litigants, actual litigants and aspiring litigants face, a lot of the hardships that stood in their way, will be eliminated through this process,” she said.
The IECMS allows for electronic filing of court documents, online case tracking and digital access to court records by litigants, legal practitioners and judicial officers.
The system is expected to reduce paperwork, minimise the risk of lost documents and improve transparency and accountability within the courts.
To ensure successful adoption of the new technology, the Judiciary Service Commission has embarked on awareness campaigns and public education programmes aimed at familiarising citizens with the system.
Chief Justice Gwaunza said judicial officials have been engaging communities through outreach initiatives, distributing information materials and educating potential court users on how to utilise the platform.
The launch was attended by magistrates, prosecutors, police officers and other justice sector stakeholders.
Judicial Services Commission secretary, Mr Walter Chikwana, said the rollout of Phase 4.3 forms part of the Judiciary’s broader strategy to embrace digital technologies, improve operational efficiency and ensure that justice remains accessible, transparent and responsive to the needs of citizens in an increasingly digital world.
He said Manicaland and Mashonaland East had become the fifth and sixth provinces in the country to adopt the system.
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