By Martin Muleya.
Mutare, Zimbabwe. (News Of The South) – a high ranking judicial officer has said the courts at all levels are equally concerned with the affairs of any ordinary person.
Speaking at the official opening of the 2016 Mutare Judicial Year, High Court Judge Justice Charles Hungwe highlighted that courts are required to have a trustworthy administration of justice so as to instill confidence in the general public.
He said for this to be achievable, it was imperative for the courts to inform the public in an objective and balanced manner, of the operations of the courts.
“It must never be overlooked that what the courts at all levels are concerned with are the affairs of the ordinary person, whether as a litigant seeking justice, as a complainant who has been wronged criminally or as an accused person against who circumstances have pointed the finger of guilt. So the courts should not be thought of as something very remote from everyday life.
“No country can prosper without peace and stability-without law and order- which demanded a trusted and trustworthy administration of justice. This can only exist where the people as a whole have confidence in the system. To in-still and maintain, and even increase that confidence, it is essential that our people be kept fully informed in an objective and balanced manner of the operation of the courts, said Justice Hungwe.
Turning on the justice delivery system in the period of 2015, Justice Hungwe noted that a total of thirty seven cases were set down for trial and completed in thirty working days.
He lamented the fact that given ten working days that the High Court sits for three court sessions each year, there still is a backlog of 137 cases.
Justice Hungwe implored that there is need for the establishment of a permanent station of the High Court that will go a long way in addressing the perennial backlog of criminal trials.
“There were three court sessions each taking up ten working days. In total therefore there were thirty working days during which all the set down matters were completed. Currently there are 137 cases constituting a backlog for this court. At this rate it is not possible to clear this backlog within a reasonable time. I am advised that the Judicial Service Commission is geared to set up a permanent High Court station in Masvingo.
“No cost is too high for justice to be accessible by the people of this country. It is for this reason that I believe that it is high time the people of this region enjoy unfettered access to justice which a permanent station of the High Court will necessarily bring,” he remarked.
Speaking at the same occasion Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Manicaland Mandi Chimene expressed gratitude on Justice Hungwe’s address.
She said the public needed to know the goings-on at the courts through the media and thus the journalists ought to be taught the proceedings of the court to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding.
“Justice must not only be seen to be done by those who can attend the trial but by the wider community via the media. There is need, for judicial officers to be more open with the media and the public, to show themselves to be real people and explain what is done and how it is done, she Minister Chimene.
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