Tanyaradzwa Chigumbu

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has introduced the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) at the Gweru Civil and Criminal Courts, marking a major shift from paper-based court processes to digital case management.

The system went live on October 1 and is expected to improve the efficiency of court operations, reduce paperwork, speed up the processing of cases, and allow members of the public to access information about their cases electronically.

The launch follows a series of consultations and awareness programs conducted by the JSC to familiarize court users, legal practitioners, police officers, and other stakeholders with the new system.

The digitalization program is supported by a public internet hub at the courts, where members of the public can register as users, upload documents, and receive assistance with filing cases and accessing information on the system.

Speaking to journalists during a tour of the Gweru courts, JSC Secretary Commissioner Dr Walter Chikwana said the commission was satisfied with the implementation of the system and had put measures in place to deal with challenges such as power and internet connectivity.

“As we indicated the last time we came here during our stakeholder meeting, we were going to deploy IECMS on the first of October, and it has happened. We are now live,” he said.

He said the JSC had installed alternative power supplies and improved internet connectivity to ensure that court operations would not be disrupted.

“I was concerned about the internet because we need to have internet for the system to work. We have deployed technical personnel around, and I am happy that we have Starlink,” he said.

The commissioner also highlighted the importance of the internet hub, saying it would help members of the public who may not have the technical skills or internet access required to use IECMS.

“One of the key areas of concern is the internet hub because this is where members of the public are supposed to come and register as users of the system. They can upload their documents and file their cases, particularly if they are having challenges with internet connectivity or the technical skills to navigate the system,” he said.

He said magistrates and other court officials had already started using IECMS to process cases, with some matters having been successfully handled through the new platform.

“I have interacted with the magistrates and they have already dealt with some matters using the system. I am very happy and appreciate them because they have positively gone beyond what is expected of them,” he said.

The new system also allows magistrates to use laptops in court and access a testimony-recording system that converts spoken evidence into text, reducing the need for handwritten notes.

The commissioner said the system was already being used for different types of cases, including virtual hearings, police-related filings, and civil matters.

“I have already noticed that two virtual hearings have begun. As I toured the hub, some police officers were uploading their Z69 documents. At the Civil Court, members of the public were filing domestic violence and maintenance cases and were being assisted without having to wait in queues,” he said.

He said the level of preparedness among court staff in Gweru was encouraging and that the benefits of digitalization would extend to both court officials and members of the public.

“The results of the digitalisation of the courts are for everyone. Firstly, it is about efficiency. The efficiency of our courts has improved and we have dealt with our backlog very well. The speed at which we handle our work has improved impressively,” he said.

The system will also allow people with an interest in a case to follow its progress without necessarily having to visit the courts physically.

“When you are a member of the public and you have an interest in a matter, you don’t have to come to the court physically to monitor the status and movement of the case. With the click of a button, you are able to monitor where your case is and communicate and interact with the system,” he said.

The commissioner added that IECMS would also strengthen accountability within the justice system because activities carried out on the platform would leave electronic records.

He said the digital footprints created by the system would make it easier to monitor the handling of cases and identify delays or irregularities.

The rollout of IECMS in Gweru forms part of the broader digitalization of Zimbabwe’s courts, with the JSC seeking to modernize court administration and make justice services more accessible, efficient, and transparent.