Marythar Kambinda
Katima Mulilo – As part of promoting access to and ensuring the smooth administration of justice in a fair, timely and accountable manner, the High Court circuit sittings are underway in Katima Mulilo.
The sittings started on 17 August, and will conclude on 31 August.
It is the first time that the High Court circuit sitting is taking place in Katima Mulilo, where Judge President Petrus Damaseb is expected to preside over four criminal cases, all of which are murder offences.
This follows the circuit sittings in Kavango East, where four other criminal cases were finalised and judgements handed down.
Speaking during a media briefing last week, deputy executive director in the Office of the Judiciary Khaepriums Swartz stated that the High Court circuit sitting is a measure to reduce the number of criminal cases which have accumulated in the Zambezi region.
He said this would “promote access to justice and ensure that justice is administered in a fair, timely, accountable and accessible manner.”
Swartz added that the exercise is also a relief for the High Court’s Northern division, where Zambezi’s criminal cases are normally heard.
The accused persons and witnesses to be called are from the Katima Mulilo district as well, which eliminates so many costs on the part of the active role-players in the cases.
“This will be a learning opportunity for legal practitioners based in the respective regions, and those aspiring to form part of the fraternity,” he said.
“In order to retain and strengthen confidence in the Judiciary, it is important that the Judiciary is at the forefront of promoting access to justice aimed at delivering timely, impartial and fair justice,” Swartz continued.
Zambezi governor Lawrence Sampofu welcomed the Judiciary’s gesture, saying it will eliminate the need to travel and the accumulation of costs on the part of those involved in these cases.
“This event is very significant in our nation’s history. This is the first-ever High Court circuit sitting to be conducted in the Zambezi region, which only has one district court and two periodical courts that have been gazetted, at Ngoma and Impalila island,” he noted.
– MICT Zambezi region