In a bold move to restore public confidence in the justice delivery system, Zimbabwe is preparing to roll out the Fast Track Court System, an ambitious judicial reform programme set to redefine how quickly and fairly justice is dispensed. At the heart of this initiative is the desire to ensure that the wheels of justice not only turn but do so swiftly, especially in cases involving the most vulnerable members of society.
Stakeholders across the justice chain converged in Harare for a preparatory engagement session, pledging unwavering support to a vision aimed at curing the age-old malaise of court delays. From the prosecution, police, and prison services to corruption watchdogs and the judiciary itself, the consensus was clear, swift justice is no longer a luxury, but a constitutional imperative.
Prosecutor General, Justice Loyce Matanda-Moyo, offered a firm endorsement of the initiative, underscoring the expected reduction in crime as a natural consequence of efficient legal proceedings. Law enforcement echoed her sentiments.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police, represented by Deputy Commissioner General Learn Ncube, emphasized that peace and economic progress are intertwined with security, and the Fast Track Court System offers a credible pathway toward a safer nation. But perhaps most striking was the sense of coordination, a rare and welcome development in Zimbabwe’s often fragmented public institutions.
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services assured that the transport and dignity of inmates, often neglected in legal discourse, would be respected and prioritised under the new system.
Similarly, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission signalled its confidence that Fast Track Courts will address public scepticism, especially the recurring critique of the justice system being a “catch and release” mechanism.
At the centre of it all was Chief Justice Luke Malaba, whose rallying cry captured the essence of the reform, justice delayed is indeed justice denied. With commanding clarity, he reminded officers of the court and law enforcement that justice is not merely an administrative function, but a human necessity that demands urgency and honour. The Chief Justice highlighted that the judiciary’s legitimacy hinges on the delivery of timely verdicts, especially in an environment where public confidence in institutions is fragile. The system, he noted, will only succeed if each stakeholder takes ownership of the process. Efficiency, coordination, and professionalism are the lifeblood of Fast Track Courts.
While infrastructure continues to expand, more courtrooms, better law enforcement tools, it is the human factor that will determine whether this innovation delivers transformation or becomes just another reform on paper. What makes this development particularly significant is its timing. As Zimbabwe embarks on its journey toward Vision 2030, the justice sector must align with broader national aspirations of stability, order, and investor confidence. Citizens, long burdened by delays and backlogs, are not just demanding justice, they are demanding that it be seen to be done, and done swiftly.
The Fast Track Court System is therefore more than an administrative tweak, it is a cultural shift in the making. It challenges the conventional bureaucratic pace of legal proceedings and introduces a results-oriented, people-centred paradigm. Its success will rest on one measure alone, whether ordinary citizens, from victims of crime to suspects awaiting trial, begin to experience a justice system that treats their pain, urgency, and dignity as a national priority.
If the pledges made in Harare translate into sustained commitment, Zimbabwe may yet witness a new dawn in justice delivery, where justice is not just a promise, but a timely guarantee.
