Beverly Bizeki
The Judicial Service Commission is set to embark on the second phase of the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) on February 1 following the successful launch of the electronic system for the Constitutional, Supreme and commercial division of the High Court
Speaking at the official opening of the legal year 2023 in Masvingo, JSC Secretary Walter Chikwana said legal practitioners are encouraged to familiarize with the system as the commission is set to undertake phase two of the project.
“We are in phase two of the implementation of the IECMS in which we are going digital in the administrative and labor court so we are here to interact with the legal practitioners as they litigate in our courts.
“We ask them (legal practitioners) to register to enable them to access the system, be trained for them to maneuver the system and also that we have set up e-filing centers at the courts,” said Chikwana.
Self-actors were also allowed to register at the High Court in preparation of the second phase as the two courts will go paperless from February.
Addressing stakeholders at the High Court in Masvingo, Registrar of the Administrative Court Kudzai Maronga representing Chikwana said National Employment Councils, designated agents, trade unionists and the Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare were key in the trainings being carried on in preparation of the launching of the IECMS phase 2.
“One needs to be registered in order to access the IECMS system thus we are here to register you as we prepare to go digital in the administrative and labor court.
“I encourage you to participate in the trainings being carried out so that when we start you will be able to use the system when we go live in February,” said Maronga.
Maronga also highlighted some of the benefits of using the system which include the removal of physical barriers in accessing the courts.
Participants at the stakeholders meeting also raised concern over the availability of resources for accessing the system to which the commission assured them that resources were available.
“Anyone who wants to use the system can use facilities that have been made available at the all the magistrates court which also include e filing officers to assist people in filing cases,” said Maronga.
The IECMS will see the coming in of online payments, virtual hearings, e-filing among others.
Phase three of the project which is expected in the next few months will see the implementation of IECMS in the general division of the high court like the criminal court.
