Niël Terblanché
The 2024 Annual Magistrates’ Conference concluded on Wednesday with a call for unity and reform within Namibia’s judicial system.
Deputy Chief Magistrate, Kandiwapa Nembia while delivering closing remarks in Swakopmund, stressed the importance of improved collaboration between magistrates.
This year’s conference, themed “Fostering a Unified Magistracy,” brought together magistrates from across Namibia to discuss ways to improve service delivery, address regional challenges, and ensure uniformity in court proceedings.
At the start of the conference, Chief Justice Peter Shivute said a unified magistracy is vital for maintaining public trust in the judicial system.
“When the public sees that our courts operate consistently, they gain confidence that the rule of law is being applied fairly across the nation,” he said earlier week while officially opening the conference.
Various speakers—including members of the judiciary, law enforcement, and external stakeholders—provided insights into the evolving role of magistrates in addressing the growing pressures on Namibia’s court system.
These pressures have been exacerbated by increasing caseloads, especially with new legislation on the horizon. Magistrates were urged to improve their management of cases to ensure timely access to justice.
The conference also served as a platform to discuss reforms aimed at enhancing court efficiency.
Bernard Kukuri, Executive Director of the Judiciary, highlighted efforts to digitalize court processes, including the implementation of a new criminal case management system.
This system is expected to streamline case processing and enable magistrates to work remotely, which would significantly reduce backlogs and improve the overall functioning of the judiciary.
The conference was supported by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), whose country representative, Natalie Russman, commended Namibia’s judiciary for its commitment to upholding the rule of law.
KAS has been a longstanding partner in Namibia’s efforts to strengthen the judicial system, particularly in promoting access to justice and supporting reforms to address court backlogs.
At the close of the conference, Nembia expressed her appreciation for all participants and stakeholders, including local and international partners, whose contributions made the event a success.
“Looking ahead, the reforms discussed during the conference, along with the continued efforts to improve magistrates’ working conditions and address security concerns, are set to play a critical role in shaping the future of Namibia’s legal system,” she said.
She added that with plans for further digitalization and a focus on uniformity across the country’s courts, the Swakopmund conference was a key event in the journey toward a more unified and effective magistracy.
