Court Reporters Demand Clarity on IECMS Access

Gweru- Court reporters in Gweru have pressed the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for clarity on how the media will access court proceedings and public records under the newly introduced Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS).

​The concerns emerged during the local IECMS launch recently, with reporters questioning whether the judiciary’s digital transition would create bottlenecks for media coverage, public court observation and independent fact-verification.

​AB Communications reporter, Mbekezeli Ncube, questioned JSC Secretary, Dr. Walter Chikwana, on whether media practitioners would be granted virtual courtroom access.

​Dr. Chikwana confirmed that virtual coverage is permitted, though subject to administrative protocols governing live hearings.

​“Yes, you can. You can cover court stories virtually, but there are certain processes that you need to go through,” Chikwana said.

“You need to seek permission from the head of that court, especially the Magistrate who is doing that matter.”

​He cited a landmark Constitutional Court ruling involving former Chief Justice Luke Malaba in the Nelson Chamisa election petition, noting that it established the binding legal framework for court media coverage in Zimbabwe.

​“That’s where the framework on how you can cover matters in Zimbabwe was set by the Constitutional Court,” he said, reiterating that reporters could obtain virtual hearing links shared with litigants once clearance is granted.

​However, the explanation left critical gaps regarding routine access to electronic court documents, such as pleadings, affidavits and judgments, which reporters require to verify facts before and after hearings.

​One local journalist however expressed reservations about the JSC's response.

​“I won’t make a comment as of now since Dr. Chikwana did not do much justice on how journalists will access information during and after court proceedings,” he said.

​The friction in Gweru mirrors a longstanding grievance raised in 2023 by senior Alpha Media Holdings court reporter Desmond Chingarande.

Through his legal counsel, Dr. Innocent Maja of Maja and Associates, Chingarande formally petitioned the JSC over media exclusion following the initial IECMS rollout.

​Chingarande argued that journalists were encountering severe hurdles retrieving civil and criminal records because system access was restricted strictly to registered litigants, legal counsel and court personnel.

​The dispute followed JSC directives mandating that superior court litigation be conducted exclusively through IECMS, a platform requiring registration, specialised training, dedicated hardware and stable internet access.

​In his petition, Chingarande highlighted that the digital transition disrupted established open-court practices where reporters freely attended roll calls and reviewed physical case files.

He argued that denying accredited journalists automated access to IECMS or virtual hearings raised serious constitutional concerns.

​The journalist invoked Sections 62 (Access to Information), 64 (Freedom to Practise a Trade or Profession) and 69 (Right to a Fair and Public Hearing) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

He maintained that judicial proceedings and supporting documents must remain accessible to the public and press.

​Furthermore, Chingarande challenged Rule 56A(2) of the amended High Court Rules, arguing that subjecting the publicity of digital proceedings entirely to judicial discretion undermines the principle of open justice.

​He proposed that the JSC allow accredited journalists to register IECMS media accounts to track proceedings and request electronic case files, or systematically provide virtual links and document access mechanisms upon request.