Story by Peter Chivhima
THE new Epworth Magistrates Court has attended to more than 2 500 cases since opening its doors to the public in March last year.
The court has gone beyond criminal cases to counsel and re-unite disintegrated families, with beneficiaries appreciative of its establishment.
In the quest to deliver justice to people’s doorsteps, the government embarked on the construction of magistrates’ courts in high density suburbs.
A visit to Epworth this Tuesday revealed that the township court is going beyond criminal cases as confirmed by Trymore Mangwiro and Ruth Magaso whose marriage crumbled.
“I want to thank the government for setting up a court here in Epworth. We are here over a maintenance issue because I have two kids with my ex-husband, but he is not paying enough money. We have come here to see if the courts can assist us and of course we got help and am now looking forward to the father of my kids to deliver what he promised the court. I have two kids and the biggest challenge is that both of them are physically challenged, they cannot walk or talk and I am not employed, said Magaso.
Mangwiro is a beneficiary of the court’s counseling services who now walks as a proud man after the issue was resolved amicably.
“I am so excited that the government saw it fit to construct a court house here in Epworth suburb. Today I came here over a maintenance issue because we separated with my wife over some issues, but today i was assisted by the courts and i am willing to own up,” he noted.
For years, sand poaching and land disputes were a daily nightmare in Epworth, but they are now a thing of the past, thanks to the court.
“As you may be aware, issues of sand poaching were so high in Epworth. We used to struggle when it comes to sand poachers causing environmental degradation, but i can testify that since the opening of this court, such cases are now being reported here and there. We also used to have cases of people fighting land but i can testify that such cases have since been reduced. So because of this I want to thank President Emerson Mnangagwa for his vision,” said Dr Epworth Local Board chief executive officer, Dr Wilton Mhanda.
Government is constructing court houses throughout the country as a way of bringing justice delivery services closer to the people.
