Zimpapers Logo

Midlands Bureau Chief
CHIEF Justice Luke Malaba has suspended the filing of new cases, pleadings and papers in response to the national lockdown regulations due to the continued rise in Covid-19 cases.

The new regulations, which came into effect yesterday, are set to remain in effect until the expiry of the Level IV lockdown period.
Cabinet on Tuesday approved the further decongestion of both public and private sector workplaces to 25 percent.

In a statement, CJ Malaba said the new practice direction applies to Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the High Court inclusive of the offices of the Master and the Sheriff, the Labour Court, the Administrative Court and the Magistrates’ Court as well as the Messenger of Court in Zimbabwe. .

“With effect from 22 July 2021, the filing of new cases, process, documents, pleadings and papers shall be suspended for a period up to 27 July 2021, unless the period is earlier extended or revoked,” he said.

CJ Malaba said the limited services that will be provided by the courts are initial remands, urgent applications and processes and bail applications.

The Sheriff and the Messenger of Court, he said, will be available to attend to matters that are connected or related to those filed in terms of initial remands; urgent applications and processes; and bail applications.

CJ Malaba said registries shall be open for litigants and legal practitioners only on week days between 0800hrs and 1500hrs.

“Admission into court premises and offices shall only be granted to litigants, legal practitioners and members of the press subject to the conditions stated hereunder. They must be subjected to temperature checks and sanitisation of hands at entry into court premises, wear face masks in the manner prescribed by law, avoid person to person contact, and maintain social distancing as prescribed by law,” he said.

CJ Malaba said any person who does not comply with Covid-19 rules and regulations shall not be allowed entry into court premises or courthouses or courtrooms.

“The time limited by any rule for the filing of process, pleadings, documents and papers shall be suspended for the duration of this period to contain the spread of the corona virus. Any act required by the Rules to have been done during the period of the lockdown within a specified period of time, shall be done within the specified time limit calculated from the 27th July 2021,” he said.

On civil matters, he said all pending civil cases originally postponed or set down shall be rolled over to between three to five days.

“The registrars and clerks of court of the respective courts shall reset down the matters in consultation with the parties. The Sheriff and the Messenger of Court shall not charge the costs of serving notices of re-set down for such matters,” said CJ Malaba.

He said all pending criminal cases have also been rolled over for a period of at least three days.