LOWVELD-BASED sugarcane giant Tongaat Hulett is partnering the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in the construction of the first ever Triangle Magistrates’ Courts, including refurbishment of the dilapidated Chiredzi Regional Court, Justice Paddington Garwe has said.
The judge, who was giving his keynote speech at the official opening of the 2020 legal year at the High Court in Masvingo on Monday, said the Triangle circuit court was overwhelmed with criminal cases and required a full-time court.
Justice Garwe said Chiredzi Regional Court was built using prefabricated material and required a facelift.
Triangle has until now been operating as a circuit court, receiving cases from Triangle and Renco Police stations, including four police bases at Sango, Mupapa, Samba and Mwenezi.
“In a related matter, I am advised that there is a heavy inflow of cases in Triangle, which is still operating as a circuit court. Triangle at times receives more criminal cases than resident Magistrates’ Courts like Chivi and Mwenezi. Triangle is serving two Police stations, namely Triangle and Renco and four police bases such as Sango, Mupapa, Samba and Mwenzi,” Justice Garwe said.
He said as a result, police was forced to travel to Chiredzi to have their matters dealt with in time.
“Chiredzi Regional Court is in a state of dilapidation and requires a facelift. The court was build using prefabricated material during our time of need. I have been advised that Tongaat Hulett has offered to partner with JSC in the rehabilitation of the regional court,” Justice Garwe said.
The 2020 legal year is running under the theme Transparency and Accountability.
The opening of the legal year was attended by JSC secretary Walter Chikwana, Masvingo mayor Advocate Collen Maboke, chiefs council president Chief Fortune Charumbira, Great Zimbabwe University Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo, service chiefs and some legal practitioners.
