The judiciaries of Namibia and Zimbabwe yesterday signed an agreement to strengthen bilateral relations, enhance judicial training, implement backlog reduction
strategies as well as digital transformation.
The agreement was signed by Namibia’s Chief Justice Peter Shivute and his Zimbabwean counterpart, Chief Justice Luke Malaba.
Shivute said the agreement is not merely a document but a reflection of the two countries’, shared vision and commitment. “It is about creating a lasting impact on our judicial systems and, ultimately, on the lives of the people we serve,” he said during the welcoming ceremony for the Zimbabwean delegation. He added that it is an opportunity to learn from each other, innovate and strive for excellence in the administration of justice for the benefit of the people.
According to Shivute, the preamble of the agreement emphasises the two countries’ commitment to a strategic partnership that leverages their collective expertise and capacities. It also acknowledges the constitutional mandates, and empowers the judiciary in the effective dispensation of justice. “We are motivated by our shared interest in strengthening our relationship and respective judiciaries, recognising that the fundamental responsibility of a judiciary is to enhance and uphold the rule of law through independent and impartial adjudication of disputes,” he remarked.
He further said the collaboration between the two judicial systems is aimed at promoting judicial accountability and transparency by setting up systems that will enhance court performance.
By working together, they can support the courts, strengthen integrity mechanisms, promote human capital development, and enhance public trust and confidence in judicial systems for the benefit of the respective nations and citizens. Malaba, who is accompanied by a delegation of prominent members of the Zimbabwean judiciary, echoed Shivute’s sentiments. He said the mutual understanding and rapport existing between the judiciary of the two countries is a foundation on which opportunities for increased cooperation are entrenched.
“It must be observed that a memorandum of understanding symbolises a record between two parties of mutual understanding and commitment towards common goals. It is not only an expression of unity, solidarity and mutual understanding, but also a recognition of the sustained necessity for mutual collaboration in areas of common interest,” Malaba said. Namibia and Zimbabwe have a long history of collaboration, including in the judiciary. He said the bilateral engagement between the Office of the Judiciary in Namibia and that of Zimbabwe is steeped in a preexisting tradition of mutual understanding.
This understanding, he said, arises from a realisation and recognition of the already long-standing cooperation between the two countries.
There is, therefore, a need to entrench and concretise the benefits the two countries can derive from the bilateral engagement. He further said it is expected that the bilateral engagement will introduce consistent and structured collaboration in the fields of digitisation of courts, human resources development and training, judicial administration and strategic leadership, as well as capacity development and resource mobilisation.
Judge Malaba, said the expectation is that the wisdom derived from different experiences in these areas will be mutually exploited for the continuous growth of the judicial systems, and the advancement of the administration of justice for the benefit of the people of Namibia and Zimbabwe.