President Netumbo Nandi- Ndaitwah on Tuesday received Luke Malaba at State House to discuss ongoing cooperation between the Namibian and Zimbabwean judiciary matters.
The latest visit was aimed at strengthening the rule of law and improving the delivery of justice.
Malaba has been in Namibia for the official visit aimed at reviewing the implementation of a 2024 cooperation agreement between the Namibian and Zimbabwean judiciaries. The President underscored the importance of collaboration between judicial institutions in upholding the rule of law across Southern Africa.
“I would really appreciate to learn more how the two institutions are collaborating in ensuring that justice prevails in our countries, being countries which are governed by the rule of law,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
Malaba is in Namibia at the invitation of Peter Shivute, in what officials describe as part of an ongoing exchange programme between the two judiciaries.
Shivute told the President that cooperation between Namibia and Zimbabwe’s courts predates formal agreements but has recently been strengthened through a 2024 memorandum of understanding.
“Our two judiciaries have been collaborating in many, many ways. In 2024, we signed a legal framework which really forms as a basis for us to collaborate. But even that document was really just a formality. We had been working together for many, many years,” Shivute said. He added that exchanges have included judicial visits and the sharing of judges between the two countries—an approach aimed at building capacity and harmonising legal standards.
The current visit focuses on reviewing progress made since a Namibian delegation travelled to Zimbabwe last year. During that engagement, both sides identified key thematic areas for cooperation, including judicial reforms and service delivery.
“So this time, he has come here so that we can review those thematic issues that we have identified and review the implementation thereof,” Shivute explained. Beyond technical cooperation, the visit signals a broader regional push to modernise court systems and make them more responsive to citizens.
“The Chief Justice and I have had similar vision… to bring about reforms in our judiciaries so that we make them responsive to serving the peoples of our countries better,” Shivute said.
Chief Justice Luke Malaba expressed his readiness to continue opening doors for mutual benchmarking:
“I’m happy to say Zimbabwe is ready to continue to open doors to the Namibian judiciary to benchmark on areas where we are stronger, just as I’m happy that you have also been very willing to ensure that institutionally, the judiciary of Namibia is available in allowing us to also benchmark on matters where you are stronger than us.
This arrangement benefits both the people of Namibia and Zimbabwe,” he said.
Justice Malaba described the engagement as a significant step in deepening the already warm and productive relationship between the two judicial institutions.
–ljason@nepc.com.na