Zimpapers Logo

Government released funds for maintenance works .
The sanitation conditions and facilities at the institution had deteriorated over the past years due to lack of funding.
In an interview last Friday, provincial magistrate Mr Mishrod Guvamombe hailed the Government for releasing funds to enable them rehabilitate the courts.
He said Government released the funding through the Justice Service Commission.
The courts, which were built over 35 years ago, were in bad state with dysfunctional toilets and erratic water supply.
This saw court officials opting for other buildings when nature called as the toilets were continually locked while members of the public were left stranded.
In January this year, the court was even closed as the building went for days without water.
Such challenges led the court to be operational only up to midday for fear of outbreaks of water borne diseases like cholera.
Said Mr Guvamombe: “We have been able to engage Widow’s Association to do the cleaning work following the release of funds by Justice Service Commission.
“It is not only the Rotten Row courts but also Mbare and Chitungwiza which are under the programme because they were all facing similar challenges,” said Guvamombe.
He also said water supplies and lighting at the courts had “greatly” improved.
“We are aware of the bad state the building was in but now we are happy because of the improvement in water supply as well as lighting,” he said.
Most of the offices, corridors and toilets were without lights, making it difficult to conclude high-profile cases that often spilt into the evening.
A visit to the Rotten Row courts last Friday, showed that contractors were busy with repairs and maintenance work.
Trucks laden with chemicals, brooms and protective cloths could also be seen arriving at the building last Friday.