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MIRROR REPORTER

CHIREDZI – In what is bound to significantly improve access to justice for the people of the lowveld, Chief Justice Luke Malaba on Friday commissioned two magistrates courts at Chiredzi and Triangle respectively.
A new court was established at Triangle because the small sugarcane town relied on a circuit court from Chiredzi while the commissioned court at Chiredzi replaces a prefabricated court that was condemned.
Justice Malaba said the opening of the two courts is also a fulfilment of the undertaking made during the opening of the legal year.
“This is a fulfilment of the undertaking made at the beginning of the year in which we said that the JSC would continue to pursue the development of essential court facilities and infrastructure,” said Malaba.
Chiredzi, one of the country’s remotest districts now enjoys four courts after the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) opened another court 11 months ago in Chikombedzi. Chiredzi enjoys a Regional Court and three magistrates courts.
The latest development places Masvingo as the province with the highest number of courts standing at nine.
Both courts have staff offices, witness shed, partitioned cell blocks to cater for persons held in custody separating males and females, toilets and Chiredzi court have two court rooms while Triangle have one. Both courts are equipped with the necessary technical specification for Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS).
The event saw a high level delegation attending, including Prosecutor General Justice Loice Matanda Moyo, Minister of State for Provincial affairs in the Office of the president, Lovemore Matuke, Deputy Minister of local Government, Engineer Benjamin Kabikira, Minister of State for Masvingo Province, Ezra Chadzamira and JSC secretary Walter Chikwana.
Justice Malaba said that the distance travelled by people to access justice will be shortened.
“The completion of the two courts guarantees easy access to justice for the public in the district and the strategic location of both court complexes is aimed at ensuring that members of the public within Chiredzi district do not travel long distances to access courts in other districts,” said Justice Malaba.
Chikwana said a court at Triangle had also become necessary because Police was forced to ferry large numbers of suspects to the courts in Chiredzi.
“There are so many cases reported in Triangle and it had become a big burden for Police to ferry suspects daily to the court in Chiredzi,” said Chikwana.
Prosecutor General Moyo said the establishment of the courts demonstrate present leadership’s commitment to ensure that justice is accessible to all.
“The establishment of these courts demonstrate the present leadership ever enduring commitment to ensure that justice is accessible to all regardless of geographical location or socio-economic status,” said Matanda Moyo.
Engineer Kabikira commented his Ministry for playing a role in the designing and refurbishment of the two courts.