Story by Mercy Matinha
THE Judicial Service Commission is currently engaging its stakeholders in Masvingo province as it continues to implement the fourth phase of the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) within Magistrates’ Courts.
Following the successful rollout of the system in Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland North, the JSC is now expanding the digitalisation programme to Masvingo and Matabeleland South Provinces as it accelerates efforts to modernise court operations.
Masvingo stakeholders gathered this Friday for an awareness session, aimed at promoting understanding and acceptance of the IECMS within the legal and broader community.
Masvingo Provincial Magistrate, Ms Caroline Nyoni, welcomed the digital transformation, noting its benefits for litigants and court staff.
“The new system is quite efficient as it helps our litigants to file their court papers in the comfort of their homes or at any place where they can access the internet. It also helps in improving efficiency through the filing of cases online, tracking of cases and virtual hearings.”
Traditional leaders in the province also expressed support for the initiative, highlighting its potential to improve access to justice in rural communities.
“We are happy that our courts are now going to be digital, it shows that as a country we are also adopting new technologies, hence it is going to be easier for many who had to travel long distances for court hearings, Case filing and payments,” Chief Murinye said.
“The programme is quite commendable and we encourage stakeholders to adopt it, however, we appeal for more awareness programmes so that communities, including those who are illiterate, will be able to access the digital court system for justice to be served,” Chief Musara added.
JSC Secretary, Mr Walter Chikwana said the goal is to ensure improved efficiency in all the courts through the use of technology, hence the implementation of IECMS.
“As you are aware, since May 2022, as the JSC we started rolling out the IECMS programme, and now we are focusing on digitising our Magistrates’ courts. We rolled out the programme in July and started with Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland North now, we are focusing on Masvingo and Matabeleland South.
“This week we have been engaging our stakeholders in Gutu, Bikita, Zaka, Chiredzi, and now we are in Masvingo, conscientising our staff and other stakeholders that IECMS is coming, hence they have to embrace it and ensure it improves efficiency within our courts.
“This programme will see our Magistrates’ Courts going paperless, hence adopting new technology in our courts. Here in Masvingo, we expect the programme to be rolled out by October in all the Magistrates’ Courts.
The Integrated Electronic Case Management System is a web-based Case Management System that automates and tracks all aspects of a case’s life cycle, from initial filing through disposition and appeal.
The first phase of IECMS was launched in May 2022 and covered the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, and the Commercial Court Division of the High Court.
The second phase focused on the Labour Court and the Administrative Court, while the third phase completed the automation of the country’s superior courts. Now, the fourth phase is focusing on connecting the magistrate courts.
