COURT business in the civil and criminal courts has returned to normal as the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) resumes normal working conditions from today.

The JSC had suspended all court business and scaled down other court activities in response to a spike in Covid-19 cases which also affected its staff.

The return to normalcy was announced by Chief Justice Luke Malaba yesterday in a new Practice Direction 9 of 2021.

According to the new Practice Direction, the filing and processing of new cases, processes, documents, pleadings, papers and court orders, including service and execution by the Sheriff and the Messenger of Court, shall be done in terms of the applicable Court Rules, legislation or court order.

The courts will be operating while observing Covid-19 protocols of temperature checks, sanitisation before admission of persons into court premises and while inside the courtrooms and court premises persons must observe physical distancing.

Only persons with court business shall be admitted into court premises.

“This practice direction is issued to replace operational instructions announced in Practice Directions 6 to 8 of 2021.

It applies to the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the High Court including the offices of the Master and the Sheriff, the Labour Court, the Administrative Court, and the Magistrates’ Court including the Messenger of Court in Zimbabwe,” said CJ Malaba.

He said court operations shall be in compliance with strict health protocols and regulations.

“The filing and processing of new cases, processes, documents, pleadings, papers and court orders, including service and execution by the Sheriff and the Messenger of Court, shall be done in terms of the applicable Court Rules, legislation or court order,” said the Chief Justice.

Court sittings for Superior Courts that is the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, High Court, Labour Court and Administrative Court, he said, shall only be limited to urgent court applications and bail hearings until September 6 when the third term commences.

“Entry into court premises/ courthouses shall strictly not be permitted to members of the public who have no business at court.

Entry into court premises/courthouses/courtrooms shall be limited to litigants, their legal practitioners, necessary witnesses and the media, who at all times shall — be subjected to temperature checks, be required to sanitise their hands at entry into court premises, wear face masks in the manner prescribed by law, maintain social distancing as prescribed by law,” said CJ Malaba.

He said people who do not comply with the requirements specified therein shall not be allowed entry into court premises/courthouse/courtroom; or shall be asked to leave the court premises or courtroom or courthouse.

CJ Malaba said litigants who are required to attend Court in a Province or District other than where they are normally resident shall obtain the necessary letters of clearance at the nearest police station.