Africa-Press – Zambia. The Minister of Justice, Joana Rosa, announced today that the São Miguel District Court will begin operating on October 1st.
This information was given to journalists at the end of the opening ceremony of the judicial year.
“We created the district, the forum of the São Miguel District. This court will begin operating on October 1st,” the minister announced, emphasizing that its installation was not completed last year due to difficulties in placing a judge in the district, and not due to a lack of resources on the part of the Ministry of Justice.
It is worth noting that Parliament approved the bill creating the São Miguel District in 2022.
In August of last year, however, the Ministry of Justice presented the project for the construction of the São Miguel Courthouse, with an estimated investment of 50 thousand contos (pounds 50 million) and a total area of 750 square meters (m2), in the special administrative zone of Veneza.
The building will consist of two floors, with the ground floor housing Registry, Notary, and Identification services, as well as the Attorney General’s Office, on the ground floor. The first floor will house the Court of Justice services.
In her remarks, Joana Rosa also emphasized that the government has invested in improving the judicial system, recruiting approximately 100 court officers and about thirty judicial and public prosecutor magistrates in recent years.
“We have also invested in the justice information system. The criminal procedure system is already operational, and the civil procedure system will begin operating soon,” she added.
The minister said the government has been working to modernize infrastructure, highlighting the justice campus, which is nearly complete, and improving the functioning of the Praia district, which has been identified as the greatest challenge in the justice system.
Furthermore, Joana Rosa explained that the recent judicial organization law provides for the creation of new courts, such as criminal investigation and commercial courts, and allows the use of retired judges and court officials to help reduce procedural delays.
“We have cases that have been pending in the courts for 5, 10, 15, 20, or more years. Our intention is to establish mechanisms to expedite pending cases,” she said.
The Minister of Justice also highlighted initiatives such as the Mediation and Arbitration Center and the inheritance arbitration law, which aim to reduce family conflicts and refer pending cases to alternative means of resolution. Joana Rosa also assured that continuing education for judges and judicial officers is a priority, including specialization in the courts.
“It’s unacceptable for citizens to wait years for a court decision. We’ve increased the number of judges and court officials, created better working conditions, and I’m confident that next year’s results will be much better,” he concluded.
For More News And Analysis About Zambia Follow Africa-Press
