Malawi’s Chief Justice, Rizine Mzikamanda, announced on Wednesday that the judiciary is planning to build more courts in rural areas to improve access to justice.
Speaking at the Judiciary 2024 Open Day in Lilongwe, Mzikamanda highlighted that many people in rural communities are forced to travel long distances to access legal services due to the absence of nearby courts.
“As we recruit more magistrates to address the problem of insufficient judicial officers, which has contributed to case backlogs, we are also focusing on the construction of courts in rural areas,” Mzikamanda said.
He pointed out that the country currently has 380 magistrates serving a population of over 21 million. Similarly, he added that Malawi has only 58 judges out of the 90 required, a number that is below what is necessary to efficiently handle cases.
“We want justice to be accessible to everyone at all times, regardless of who they are or their social standing,” he emphasized.
Despite the challenges posed by staffing shortages, the Chief Justice assured the public that the judiciary is working tirelessly to ensure that people receive the services they need. He also revealed that a service charter is set to be launched this year, underscoring the judiciary’s commitment to providing effective and timely justice.
Minister of Justice, Titus Mvalo, echoed the need for more resources, stating that his ministry is lobbying the government to increase the judiciary’s budget allocation.
The Open Day event featured a fun run, starting from the Interchange through Parliament and Capital Hotel, ending at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) Amphitheatre. Participants had the opportunity to interact and learn about the court system and its services.
The event was attended by Justices of Appeal, judges, magistrates, students, teachers, and various stakeholders from different sectors.
