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Leonard Ncube Senior Court Reporter
THE Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is building about 30 courts to promote the concept of victim friendly courts countrywide, as it gears itself to ensure justice for all.
Addressing hundreds of people  comprising law officers, civil servants, traditional leaders and members of the public when he officially opened the Tsholotsho Victim Friendly Court yesterday, Chief Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe said the concept of child friendly courts was necessitated by the ever increasing cases of child abuse.

A victim friendly court is designed in such a way that a confined room is installed with information communication technology systems from where victims of sexual abuse can testify without having to face the perpetrator.

“The opening of the victim friendly          court will mark a new era in fighting child abuse in Tsholotsho. This comes at a time when crimes of sexual violence particularly against children, are on the increase nationwide,” said Chief Magistrate Guvamombe.

The new court has two courtrooms, a resident magistrate’s office and other offices. Its construction was funded by Plan Zimbabwe. Cases of sexual abuse in Tsholotsho were being heard at the Bulawayo Regional court.

The Chief Magistrate said they wanted to take victim friendly courts closer to the people.
“JSC’s vision is to promote and facilitate the delivery of world class justice in line with the protocol on the multi-sectoral management of sexual abuse and   violence to assist victims and survivors of sexual abuse launched by JSC in December 2012.”

Added Chief Magistrate Guvamombe: “We realised there are barriers as people maybe denied justice because of the  distance to the courts. We have built such courts in Guruve, Murewa, Mutoko, Norton and work is in progress at Esigodini where we hope to be done before the end of next month.

“Next we will move to Nkayi, Binga and Victoria Falls, as we want to build on 30 sites in two years, using the new concept that each court should have an office dedicated to vulnerable witnesses.”

Chief Magistrate Guvamombe expressed concern at the slow pace in the completion of Gwanda Provincial Court.  Turning to the issue of corruption alleged to be prevalent within courts, Chief Magistrate Guvamombe said they were working flat out to fight the scourge.

He paid tribute to JSC officers for their dedication, saying they had managed to clear  the backlog of cases. Chief Magistrate Guvamombe said JSC and the magistrates’ association were locked in talks to improve working conditions in the judiciary.

Provincial magistrate in charge of Matabeleland North and Bulawayo, Enias Magate, said the court would uphold rights of victims of sexual abuse.
“We expect this court to address numerous cases of victims of sexual abuse who couldn’t open up in an open court for fear of their abusers, to do so freely without fear,” he said.

Said senior regional magistrate, Trynos Utahwashe: “We are quite happy that at least we are achieving an objective of being close to people. People wouldn’t need to go to Bulawayo but we would be coming to  them.”

In a speech read of his behalf by Tsholotsho District Administrator, Nosizi Dube, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Matabeleland North, Ambassador Cain Mathema said government was working closely with the judiciary system to ensure crime free communities.

“Some victims were failing to attend court thereby compromising justice and government would support all efforts to make sure child protection is achieved. Protecting a child is a role we should all share and we will continue to work closely with the courts,” he said.

A representative of Plan Zimbabwe, Zvidzai Chidakwa, said his organisation was child-centred and its gesture was a response to increasing cases of sexual abuse.