Africa-Press – Namibia. THE recently sworn-in President, Nangolo Mbumba, has called on Namibians to refrain from unfairly criticizing the Judiciary for its decisions concerning the execution of its duties.
President Mbumba made this appeal during the Official Opening of The Legal Year, emphasizing the importance of allowing courts, judges, and judicial staff to carry out their responsibilities without unwarranted societal pressure or influence.
“It is disheartening to observe that sometimes, the Judiciary is subjected to unjustifiable criticism for its decisions in the performance of its professional duties. Such criticism of judicial officers could become a hindrance to the effective exercise of judicial functions and the administration of justice. I, therefore, urge Namibians to desist from actions that could be tantamount to interference with the work of the Judiciary,” the president said.
He added that, despite fiscal constraints and resultant budget cuts, the Office of the Judiciary has made significant achievements during the 2022/2023 financial year. He, therefore, encouraged the members of the Judiciary to continue carrying out their work efficiently and effectively.
“The Government will continue to support the Judiciary by providing budgetary funding to enhance its capacity. Such support is instrumental in filling pivotal vacancies and advancing the Courts’ physical and technological infrastructure, thereby improving judicial efficiency, effectiveness, and service delivery,” President Mbumba added.
The president further called upon all Judiciary members and the legal community to work diligently towards ensuring that justice is accessible to every Namibian, actively contributing to the overall well-being and improvement of Namibia.
President Mbumba also emphasized that the late President Hage Geingob designated 2024 as the Year of Expectations, acknowledging the significance of pivotal events in the country during this year. He specifically pointed out the upcoming national election as one of these critical events and urged the Judiciary to guarantee the fairness and freedom of such elections.
“Our late President, Dr Hage G. Geingob, named 2024 the Year of Expectations. This theme resonates with important events taking place in our country this year, among them the Presidential and National Assembly elections, where all Namibian citizens will exercise their constitutional rights and elect their leaders democratically. The Judiciary, as an indispensable organ of the State, should play its constitutional and complementary role to ensure the seamless holding of elections that are free and fair,” the president added.
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