KATIMA MULILO – To bring services and the administration of justice closer to the citizenry, the government inaugurated the multi-million-dollar Katima Mulilo Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The state-of-the-art facility, which cost N$84 million to complete, includes key features, designed to provide an optimal environment for the administration of justice and those who work under it.
Speaking during the inauguration of the facility, Chief Justice Peter Shivute said it also features increased security, which has been prioritised in
the construction process.
“The safety and protection of judicial officers, staff members and the public are of utmost importance.
We recognise that a court is a place where sensitive and often difficult matters are adjudicated. Ensuring that everyone who enters this space – whether to work or to seek justice – can do so without fear is essential for the effective functioning of any legal system,” he stated assuringly.
Equally, enhanced security measures will contribute to a sense of safety and trust, which is fundamental to the proper operation of this court.
Shivute stated that the new building has been designed with the needs of vulnerable witnesses in mind, particularly children and adults, who may find the court environment intimidating.
He added that the creation of private and secure waiting areas demonstrates their commitment to safeguarding the dignity of vulnerable individuals.
“These areas provide a calm and private space, ensuring that witnesses can participate in the judicial process without added stress or anxiety. Moreover, the installation of a one-way viewing glass in the vulnerable witness testifying room is a notable innovation,” he noted.
This allows witnesses to testify without direct visual contact with an accused, providing an additional layer of protection which encourages full and truthful testimony, while minimising the emotional toll on those most at risk.
The facility, like all public institutions, belongs to the people it serves.
“It stands as a symbol of our collective duty to uphold justice and fairness in our society. As such, I encourage all judicial officers, court staff and members of the public to take pride in this new facility. Today, we see the dawn of a new chapter, in which this court stands as a beacon of justice, fully-functional and ready to serve the community,” Shivute said.
He added: “Your worship, the mayor, the value of your town has gone up. This facility cost N$84 million, so the rates and taxes have come home. Make sure it is taken care of”.
Minister of Justice Yvonne Dausab, who jointly inaugurated the facility with Shivute, stressed the importance of access to justice.
She said for some, it signifies the ability to exercise legal rights and seek remedies when wronged, while for others, it represents having a fair and transparent forum to defend oneself against criminal or civil charges, and being heard by an impartial decision-maker.
“Yet, to others, access to justice means having the necessary law-related resources such as legal assistance, or the means to navigate complex judicial processes. No one can deny the importance of these components of justice, especially when the legal stakes are high. Consequently, access to justice is also symbolised in a more immediate, physical form. In this instance, it is about having a court that is geographically accessible – a place where justice is not just an idea, but a lived reality. Today, that is the reality for the Zambezi region,” she highlighted.
She said the new court provides the people of Zambezi with a local, physical space where they can seek justice, defend their rights, and have their cases heard by impartial decision-makers.
Moreover, she underlined that the inauguration of the court demonstrates that justice is not confined to urban centres, but extends to every corner of Namibia.
With only one district court and two periodical courts gazetted at Ngoma and Impalila Island, Dausab said the new facility strengthens the government’s ability to deliver timely and impartial justice to the people of the Zambezi region.