New High Court presents headache
STAKE holders within the justice delivery system in Mutare have pleaded with Chief Justice Luke Malaba to ensure the provision of ancillary services to support the new High Court which is expected to service the public by October this year.
Presenting their concerns to the incoming Chief Justice soon after touring the High Court building which is under construction, players in the legal fraternity said the setting up of the upper court was a welcome development that should be fully accompanied with supplementary services.
Soon after touring the new High Court building - formerly Rainbow Cinema - Chief Justice Malaba who was accompanied by Judicial Service Commission secretary, Justice Rita Makarau, met the stakeholders at the Mutare Magistrates’ Courts for a one-on-one session to hear their concerns.
Officer Commanding Prisons and Correctional Services in Manicaland Senior Assistant Commissioner Didymus Chimvura said bringing a High Court to the city was welcome but his department does not have a requisite prison facility to hold dangerous criminals.
“The idea of a High Court in Mutare is a very welcome idea but with it comes a host of other challenges. May it be noted that we do not have a Grade 4 prison. A Grade 4 prison is a prison which houses D class prisoners who have sentences of seven years or more. So when we are going to have High Court sessions on a daily basis we will overcrowd Mutare Remand Prison with very dangerous prisoners,” he said.
A board member of the National Prosecuting Authority, Mr Misheck Mugadza, said there was need to set up a regional court in Chipinge. “All the facilities are there in Chipinge. It is difficult for people to come from Chimanimani, Birchenough Bridge and part of Buhera to be serviced by the regional court ◆ To Page 2