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Runesu Gwidi Masvingo Correspondent
The decentralisation of Small Claims Courts by the Government countrywide has gathered pace in a development expected to enhance efficiency in the justice delivery system.

Judiciary Services Commission (JSC) secretary Mr Walter Chikwana said recently that the decentralisation of Small Claims Courts had received overwhelming response from traditional leaders and their communities.

“Small Claims Courts have a functional role to settle civil cases involving smaller amounts of money in a less formal way,” he said.

“The JSC has since been tasked by the Government to ensure that Small Claims Courts are established in every district. The decentralisation of Small Claims Courts is gathering pace.’’

The move by the JSC marked another milestone in the on-going efforts to ensure justice is accessible to all communities under the country’s Second Republic.

“Communities have also been applauding the move as a milestone towards bringing justice to their door-steps,” said Mr Chikwana. “This will also lessen the burden of formal courts by minimising the number of cases they handle.

“Small Claims Courts help to apparently ensure quick recovery of small amounts of money from respondents by plaintiffs.

“Off hand, I cannot tell how many Small Claims Courts have so far been established across the country, but I can safely say that the on-going decentralisation of Small Claims Courts is receiving positive response from communities.”

Government, said Mr Chikwana, was also decentralising Commercial Courts to all the country’s 10 provinces.

In Masvingo, several traditional leaders hailed the decentralisation of Small Claims Courts.

They said the move will reduce transport costs for people who often have to travel to urban centres for their cases to be heard.

Masvingo Chiefs’ Assembly provincial chair Chief Chitanga (Mr Felani Chauke) applauded the JSC for decentralising the courts.

“As chiefs, we fully support the process (decentralising of Small Claims Courts),” he said. “It’s actually complementing our efforts to ensure harmony prevails in our communities.

“In urban centres, for instance, there are no village heads and traditional chiefs to settle trivial cases, hence Small Claims Courts would be very vital.”