News / Regional
New magistrates' courts for Vic falls, Binga, Nkayi
05 Aug 2014 at 10:47hrs | Views
VICTORIA FALLS, Binga and Nkayi are set to have proper magistrates' courts after the Denmark government through the Danish International Development Agency (Danida) provided funds to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), part of which would be used to build 30 such courts countrywide.
The three courts in Matabeleland North have been operating in makeshift buildings and were each manned by a single magistrate resulting in a huge case backlog.
The government has already flighted tenders for construction of the magistrates' courts.
"The government of Denmark through Danida has provided funds in support of the JSC of Zimbabwe with a broad aim of enhancing access to justice in Zimbabwe by strengthening the JSC's capacity for service delivery throughout the country.
"Part of the funds will be allocated to the construction of 30 magistrates' courts.
"The fund holder for this programme is the Legal Resources Foundation (LRF).
"Project management, including architectural, quantity surveying and engineering, will be provided by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing," reads a Local Government ministry statement.
"The LRF invites bids from building contractors registered with the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing for construction of magistrates' courts, including civil, electrical and mechanical facilities. Lot 1 covers courts in Beitbridge, Chivi and Mwenezi. Lot 2 covers courts in Binga, Nkayi and Victoria Falls."
This development comes after chief magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe decried the failure by Matabeleland North province to use $100 000 allocated to it by the JSC to fund priority projects.
During a tour of the province's courts last year, Guvamombe expressed concern at the state of infrastructure saying it was a far cry from what it should be like.
The three courts in Matabeleland North have been operating in makeshift buildings and were each manned by a single magistrate resulting in a huge case backlog.
The government has already flighted tenders for construction of the magistrates' courts.
"The government of Denmark through Danida has provided funds in support of the JSC of Zimbabwe with a broad aim of enhancing access to justice in Zimbabwe by strengthening the JSC's capacity for service delivery throughout the country.
"Part of the funds will be allocated to the construction of 30 magistrates' courts.
"Project management, including architectural, quantity surveying and engineering, will be provided by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing," reads a Local Government ministry statement.
"The LRF invites bids from building contractors registered with the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing for construction of magistrates' courts, including civil, electrical and mechanical facilities. Lot 1 covers courts in Beitbridge, Chivi and Mwenezi. Lot 2 covers courts in Binga, Nkayi and Victoria Falls."
This development comes after chief magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe decried the failure by Matabeleland North province to use $100 000 allocated to it by the JSC to fund priority projects.
During a tour of the province's courts last year, Guvamombe expressed concern at the state of infrastructure saying it was a far cry from what it should be like.
Source - Southern Eye
