Africa-Press – Angola. The president of the Superior Council for the Judiciary (CSMJ), Joel Leonardo, this Thursday in Luanda urged judges to work towards guaranteeing and facilitating, more and more, access to justice for citizens.
The venerable judge spoke at the swearing in of the presidents of the District Courts of Benguela, António Santana, of Huambo, António Sebastião, and of Lobito, Mateus Domingos.
He reiterated that the citizen is the priority in the exercise of judicial activity, having underlined the need to implement, more quickly, the principle of access to justice, enshrined in the Constitution of Angola.
In this sense, he defended the articulation with the bodies of the State administration and Justice, namely the National Police and the Ministry of the Interior, through coordination mechanisms, as well as the strict control of the operation and level of productivity of the registry offices.
According to Joel Leonardo, the traditional authorities, when called to the courts, should also deserve particular attention and courtesy, as they bring procedural actors.
De igual modo, o presidente do CSMJ mostrou-se preocupado com os transtornos que os cidadãos vivem face a adiamentos de julgamentos, sobretudo em gastos financeiros, meios de transporte e deslocações constantes de testemunhas ou declarantes, sem que sejam ouvidos.
“The postponement of the trials is dramatic. There will have to be greater control regarding the observance of the time and the consolidation of the act, and only in very thoughtful circumstances should we postpone the judgments”, he considered, guiding towards the recognition and encouragement of employees who stand out in the exercise of their functions.
Joel Leonardo highlighted, on the other hand, the economic potential of the provinces of Benguela and Huambo, which is why he asked the presidents of the District Courts that were sworn in for greater attention to precautionary measures, labor disputes and the protection of foreign investors.
The new leaders of the aforementioned courts, on the other hand, were aware of the difficulties to be faced and expressed their willingness to work in favor of the affected guidelines, and should count on the collaboration of all at the level of the respective provinces.
For António Santana, who will head the Benguela District Court, it is important to bring together those who work in cases of various natures and to harmonize, at a local level, the relationship between the Judicial, Executive and Legislative powers, in order to implement the principle of the democratic state and the rule of law.
“Whatever is proven, the decision will be taken so that justice is properly administered”, stressed the judge, hoping to overcome the delay phenomenon.
In turn, the president of the Huambo District Court, António Sebastião, considers the mission thorny, as it coincides, among other factors, with a time when the country is not economically well, but refers that with a united class there will be conditions to answer the challenges.
The judge of Law Mateus Domingos, president of the Lobito District Court, said that the fact that he has already been a magistrate in this institution, since 2014, could provide a better perception and ease of work, on the basis of continuity.
“What exists is the possible. The ideal does not exist, both for court employees and magistrates, hence there is much talk of procedural volume in the courts”, he said in an allusion to human resources.
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