THE Judiciary of Tanzania is advancing in using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in determination of cases, a move aimed at timely dispensing justice and reducing costs, the Chief Justice (CJ), Prof. Ibrahim Juma, said on Monday in Dar es Salaam.
Prof Juma gave an example of 60 cases that were heard and determined by the Court of Appeal at different locations in Mbeya, Mwanza and Bukoba registries through the video conference system whereby about 100m/- that was to be spent for the sessions was saved.
“Through video conference system, the Court of Appeal heard and determined 60 appeals cases while sitting in Dar es Salaam. Only 5m/- was spent as costs instead of 100m/- had the justices and their assistants travelled to Mbeya, Mwanza and Bukoba,” he told a press conference.
He recalled that on January 13, 2020, the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’ s Court in Dar es Salaam, for the first time, grated bail to inmate Abubakar Segui, who was at Keko Remand Prison through Video Conference System.
“This is an example of the direction of provision of justice in future,” he said.
Currently, Prof. Juma said, there are six Judicial Centres with internet access services for Video Conference provision.
They are High Court in Dar es Salaam, Mbeya and Bukoba, the Kisutu Training and Information Resource Centre, Keko Prison and Lushoto Institute of Judicial Administration.
The CJ disclosed other ICT advances as successful in uploading judgments delivered by different courts into the judiciary’s legal system, where about 1,523 Court of Appeal judgments were uploaded by December 13, 2019 and other 1,297 judgments at the High Court level.
Within the same period, he said, 334 judgments of the High Court’s Land Division were uploaded into the system and 238 others of Commercial Court, while 72 judgments of Economic, Corruption and Organised Crime Division and other 76 for Labour Court were also uploaded.
He explained further that the use of ICT has helped litigants to file cases electronically through Judicial Statistical Dashboard System and that they have introduced a system of identifying advocates with valid business licenses, as well as names of court brokers.
The CJ also announced that the Law Day celebrations for 2020 will be held in the Capital City of Dodoma on February 6, 2020 under the theme, “Investments and Business: the Role of Judiciary and Stakeholders of Setting up Enabling Investment Environments.”
During the celebrations, he said, President John Magufuli is expected to be the guest of honour.
He said that the theme was a reminder that the law, rule of law and timely justice system are important resources in achieving and simplifying business, investment, economic growth and citizens’ well-being.
“The theme also insists on each of us: that is Judiciary, stakeholders and the general public that; apply the Law, apply the judicial system, use the rule of law and use the justice system for the achievement of one major goal: By 2025, Tanzania is among middle income countries without abject poverty,” he said.
Prof. Juma also pointed out that prior to the celebrations there would be a Law Week with specific purposes of provision of different legal and court procedures, as well as exhibitions to be held from January 31 through February 5, 2020 at Nyerere Square Grounds in Dodoma.
There would be a special walk to signify the official start of the Law Week to take place on February 1, 2020 with the Speaker of the United Republic of Tanzania Parliament, Mr Job Ndugai, expected to be the official guest.
The walk will begin at the High Court grounds would end at Nyerere Square,” he said.
