Top legal minds to meet in Windhoek

FOURTEEN of the top legal figures in southern and eastern Africa are set to gather in Windhoek on Friday and Saturday for a meeting of regional Chief Justices.

Chief Justice Peter Shivute announced yesterday that Namibia’s Supreme Court will be hosting the annual general meeting of the Southern African Judges’ Commission (SAJC) at the end of this week. Fourteen Chief Justices from southern and eastern Africa have confirmed that they will be attending, the Chief Justice said.They are the Chief Justices of Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Mauritius.The idea is to bring judges together to share information and foster co-operation, with the aim of enhancing the quality of justice being dispensed in these regions of Africa, the Chief Justice said.The Secretary-General of the Venice Commission, an organisation of the Council of Europe, will also be attending the meeting.The Venice Commission has been the SAJC’s all-weather co-operative partner and has provided financial support towards the holding of the meeting, the Chief Justice explained.The Venice Commission has been aiming at promoting the rule of law and judicial independence in the region through its co-operation with the SAJC, according to Chief Justice Shivute.The Venice Commission, also known as the European Commission for Democracy through Law, is the Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional matters.Some of the Chief Justices attending the meeting will also be accompanied by senior judges from their countries’ courts, the Chief Justice said.He added that President Hifikepunye Pohamba would officially open the meeting on Friday morning.Among the presentations expected to be given at the meeting are papers from Malawi’s Chief Justice Leonard Unyolo and Zambia’s Chief Justice Ernest Sakala, with themes such as the promotion of the independence and accountability of the judiciary, as well as the relationship between the judiciary and the media, according to Chief Justice Shivute.He added that on Saturday the Chief Justices are set to attend a special dinner at the Supreme Court in honour of South Africa’s recently retired Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson, “a great jurist and indefatigable fighter for human rights,” the Chief Justice remarked.Retired Justice Chaskalson will also be attending the conference.The Judges’ Commission’s meeting is the second major gathering of a regional legal organisation in Windhoek in under two months.In mid-June, the capital also hosted a conference and the annual general meeting of the SADC Lawyers Association.Fourteen Chief Justices from southern and eastern Africa have confirmed that they will be attending, the Chief Justice said.They are the Chief Justices of Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Mauritius.The idea is to bring judges together to share information and foster co-operation, with the aim of enhancing the quality of justice being dispensed in these regions of Africa, the Chief Justice said.The Secretary-General of the Venice Commission, an organisation of the Council of Europe, will also be attending the meeting.The Venice Commission has been the SAJC’s all-weather co-operative partner and has provided financial support towards the holding of the meeting, the Chief Justice explained.The Venice Commission has been aiming at promoting the rule of law and judicial independence in the region through its co-operation with the SAJC, according to Chief Justice Shivute.The Venice Commission, also known as the European Commission for Democracy through Law, is the Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional matters.Some of the Chief Justices attending the meeting will also be accompanied by senior judges from their countries’ courts, the Chief Justice said.He added that President Hifikepunye Pohamba would officially open the meeting on Friday morning.Among the presentations expected to be given at the meeting are papers from Malawi’s Chief Justice Leonard Unyolo and Zambia’s Chief Justice Ernest Sakala, with themes such as the promotion of the independence and accountability of the judiciary, as well as the relationship between the judiciary and the media, according to Chief Justice Shivute.He added that on Saturday the Chief Justices are set to attend a special dinner at the Supreme Court in honour of South Africa’s recently retired Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson, “a great jurist and indefatigable fighter for human rights,” the Chief Justice remarked.Retired Justice Chaskalson will also be attending the conference.The Judges’ Commission’s meeting is the second major gathering of a regional legal organisation in Windhoek in under two months.In mid-June, the capital also hosted a conference and the annual general meeting of the SADC Lawyers Association.