GWANDA
–
Chief
Justice
Luke
Malaba
says
construction
of
the
new
Gwanda
Court
Complex
—
one
of
the
judiciary’s
largest
infrastructure
projects
—
is
now
in
its
final
stages,
with
completion
targeted
for
the
end
of
the
year.
Speaking
during
a
tour
of
the
site,
Malaba
said
his
visit
was
to
“fulfil
a
promise”
made
earlier
this
year
to
personally
monitor
progress
on
the
project,
which
began
in
earnest
in
2018.
Built
into
the
side
of
a
hill,
the
multi-storey
complex
will
house
nine
courtrooms,
including
a
resident
High
Court,
and
accommodate
all
judicial
departments
from
magistrates
and
prosecutors
to
prison
services
and
administrative
staff.
“This
is
one
of
the
biggest
projects
undertaken
by
the
judiciary
as
part
of
our
infrastructure
development
policy,”
Malaba
said.
“Courts
are
a
demonstration
of
our
commitment
to
ensuring
the
public’s
right
of
access
to
justice.”
The
Gwanda
High
Court
will
be
the
fourth
provincial
High
Court
after
Masvingo,
Mutare
and
Chinhoyi,
part
of
a
plan
to
establish
one
in
every
province.
Malaba
said
the
complex
would
address
a
long
wait
for
residents
of
Matabeleland
South,
who
have
been
without
a
local
High
Court
for
nearly
seven
years.
He
revealed
the
building
will
feature
a
public
viewing
deck
offering
panoramic
views
of
the
whole
of
Gwanda,
turning
the
facility
into
more
than
just
a
place
of
justice.
“The
court
will
also
be
a
cultural
heritage
site,”
he
said.
“Members
of
the
public
from
different
places
will
be
able
to
come
here,
experience
the
view
and
appreciate
the
town
from
above.”
Malaba
also
emphasised
that
the
project
is
part
of
a
broader
transformation
of
the
judiciary,
including
the
rollout
of
an
Integrated
Electronic
Case
Management
System
(IECMS)
designed
to
eliminate
corruption,
case
backlogs
and
delays.
“With
IECMS,
once
a
document
is
filed,
it
leaves
a
permanent
electronic
footprint
that
cannot
be
erased,”
he
said.
“Everyone
involved
can
track
a
case
in
real
time,
ensuring
transparency.”
The
Chief
Justice
said
the
contractor
had
met
all
deadlines
so
far,
with
the
next
inspection
set
for
December
5,
when
he
hopes
to
find
a
completed
and
operational
facility.
“This
is
not
just
brick
and
mortar,”
Malaba
said.
“It’s
a
manifestation
of
change
—
a
new
standard
for
justice
delivery
in
Zimbabwe.”