The Sunday Mail
Theseus Shambare
ALL superior courts in Zimbabwe have begun using the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) after the general division of the High Court and the Office of the Sheriff of the High Court were onboarded onto the digital platform on September 1, 2022.
IECMS is a web-based platform that enables users to virtually file court documents, check progress on court cases, access judgments, make e-payment of fees and conduct virtual hearings.
More than 18 000 people drawn from various sections of the legal fraternity have registered to use the IECMS, which was launched in May last year.
JSC has set up e-filing centres at every court station countrywide, which are equipped with computers and internet. To date, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has set up 63 e-filing centres countrywide to facilitate access to the service.
Speaking during a recent outreach programme in Harare, JSC spokesperson Mr Daniel Nemukuyu said there was overwhelming response to the new system.
He said: “IECMS was launched last year and is running in four phases.
“The first phase was successfully implemented on May 1, 2022, at the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court and the Commercial Division of the High Court.
“On February 1, 2023, the second phase was launched at the Labour Court and Administrative Court,he said.
The third phase was implemented at the High Court General Division on September 1, 2023. The fourth phase which covers magistrate’s court will be implemented soon. At present count, 18 854 court users have registered for IECMS. Registration is ongoing.
Mr Nemukuyu said rules governing the use of the digitised courts have been gazetted.
Medical Professionals and Allied Workers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Mrs Tecla Barangwe, who received training in using the IECMS, applauded Government for the initiative.
“The issues of court papers disappearing have been always reported,” she said.
Progressive Commercial Trades and Allied Workers Union general secretary Mr Tawanda Mupeti said digitisation of courts will cut transport costs and curb corruption.
X: TheseusShambare
