By Simba Matake
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) has welcomed the commissioning of Zimbabwe’s first mobile court, saying the initiative will reduce operational pressure on correctional officers and improve access to justice.
The mobile court was commissioned in Harare on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at a ceremony officiated by Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza.
ZPCS Harare Metropolitan Province Officer Commanding, Commissioner Ernest Pambayi, attended the ceremony and commended the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for introducing the initiative.
The mobile court will initially serve Glen Norah, Glen View, Budiriro and Southlea Park through weekly rotational visits to police stations, bringing judicial services closer to communities while easing the caseload at Mbare Magistrates’ Court.
Chief Justice Gwaunza said bringing courts closer to communities was a constitutional obligation, highlighting the importance of improving access to justice.
Commissioner Pambayi said the initiative would significantly reduce the time and resources correctional officers spend transporting accused persons and court records to conventional courts.
He said the development would enable officers to concentrate more on their core responsibilities, particularly the rehabilitation and reintegration of convicted inmates.
The mobile court is also expected to reduce delays in court appearances, improve the efficiency of the justice delivery system and strengthen coordination among institutions within the criminal justice sector.
The initiative marks a significant step towards decentralising judicial services and making justice more accessible to communities that face challenges travelling to conventional courts.