Cowdray Park Court construction underway

The Cowdray Park courthouse in Bulawayo is set to open in the last quarter of the year despite construction delays caused by rocky terrain and water issues, according to the Judicial Services Commission (JSC).

The Bulawayo City Council is building the courthouse, which will feature three courtrooms, a Victim Friendly Court, and facilities for various judicial and law enforcement agencies.

The project faced challenges due to rocky ground requiring blasting and a dry borehole that necessitated buying water. Despite being behind schedule, the contractor plans to implement night shifts to meet the deadline. The JSC also plans a second borehole to resolve water issues.

JSC Secretary Walter Chikwana highlighted the efficient case handling at Tsholotsho and Inyathi Magistrates' Courts but noted the slow case disposal at Western Commonage, which will be addressed. He also mentioned power challenges in Tsholotsho affecting service delivery and emphasized the importance of digitalizing court processes through the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS), introduced in February 2022.

Additionally, Chikwana noted issues such as poor public ablution facilities and the need for another borehole at Western Commonage, as well as the necessity for office space improvements in Inyathi.