By Tunomukwathi Asino
WINDHOEK – A legal professional believes local courts are not lagging behind in ICT as Namibians would be able to follow court proceedings on Twitter.
After lawyers brought an application in South Africa cameras were mounted in court enabling viewers to be glued to their television sets through a 24-hour channel and follow the proceedings in the case of the one-time Olympic athlete turned murder accused, Oscar Pistorius.
Journalists were also allowed to tweet from the courtroom, a first for South Africa.
Media practitioners from around the globe are also able to tweet 140-character text messages, called Tweets, from court on the trial of the blade runner
However, senior advocate, Gerson Hinda, believes Namibian courts are not lagging behind. Hinda cited as an example Chief Justice Peter Shivute allowing
the television broadcast of the hearing of the arguments of the opposition challenging Namibia’s 2009 National Assembly results.
There were also television mounted in the corridors of the court for the public to view proceedings.
High Court staff informed New Era that currently there is no rule barring journalists from tweeting in court. But the usage of cellphones in court interferes with proceedings and recordings and if one’s cellphone rings, one can be found in contempt of court.