Story by Providence Maraneli
CHIEF Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza has commended the Second Republic’s commitment to improving access to justice after touring the nearly completed Gwanda Magistrates’ Complex.
Construction of the complex, which stalled in 2004 before resuming under the Second Republic, has gathered pace, with the contractor targeting completion by the end of the year.
Impressed by the progress, Chief Justice Gwaunza said the facility will strengthen justice delivery in the region.
“This massive infrastructure will have a positive impact on our justice delivery. It will have the High Court. We are looking at having a High Court in Kwekwe and this one, so we would have delivered justice closer to the people of this region,” she said.
The complex will house nine courtrooms, 25 offices for magistrates, prosecutors, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) officers and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), as well as holding cells. It is also being customised to accommodate the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS).
Judiciary Service Commission Secretary, Mr Walter Chikwana, said the facility has been designed to meet modern justice delivery standards.
“We want to ensure that the people of Matabeleland South access justice and modernise parts of the structure to meet new standards that conform to the digitalisation of the court system.”
Architect in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Engineer Kudakwashe Kutshwayo said improved funding had accelerated construction.
“Of late, the pace of the project has significantly improved due to an improvement in the disbursement of funds. The works we are doing now include roofing, which is at 85 percent completion. If we continue receiving funds at this pace, we will manage to complete the project by year-end,” he said.
Once completed, the complex will address office space shortages currently affecting Gwanda magistrates, who are operating from the District Development offices.
