Wheels of justice get bogged down

MANY of the Regional Courts across Namibia have ground to a halt because there is no money to pay the travel allowances of presiding magistrates.

Numerous Regional Court cases have been postponed because of the absence of magistrates, who often have to travel long distances to preside over cases. Not only are suspects inconvenienced by these postponements, but also witnesses and attorneys who travel long distances to be present in court.The Namibian learnt from reliable sources in the Justice Ministry that no money has been available for magistrates’ travel allowances for the past month.The reason is because of “a problem with the Ministry’s budget”.At Swakopmund – for the second week now – an average of three cases a day have been postponed in the Regional Court.According to one of the defence lawyers who travelled all the way from Windhoek, Stephen Kenny, the reason for the postponements was an “unacceptable excuse”.He said he had received a message on his cellphone informing him that the trial he was involved in was being postponed because Magistrate Dinnah Usiku could not attend the trial, as there was no money available to pay her subsistence and travel (S&T) allowance.The Namibian has learnt that the same problem is being experienced at other regional courts across the country, such as at Gobabis and in the South.According to sources, this has been going on for a month, and there has been no indication when the problem will be solved.The Namibian contacted Justice Permanent Secretary Steve Katjiuanjo for comment.He confirmed that there had been a “hiccup” with regard to the availability of funds budgeted for S&Ts and that it affected all the regional and periodic courts.He said the Ministry had transferred funds from other budget categories and court sessions should continue as normal from now on.Not only are suspects inconvenienced by these postponements, but also witnesses and attorneys who travel long distances to be present in court.The Namibian learnt from reliable sources in the Justice Ministry that no money has been available for magistrates’ travel allowances for the past month. The reason is because of “a problem with the Ministry’s budget”.At Swakopmund – for the second week now – an average of three cases a day have been postponed in the Regional Court.According to one of the defence lawyers who travelled all the way from Windhoek, Stephen Kenny, the reason for the postponements was an “unacceptable excuse”.He said he had received a message on his cellphone informing him that the trial he was involved in was being postponed because Magistrate Dinnah Usiku could not attend the trial, as there was no money available to pay her subsistence and travel (S&T) allowance.The Namibian has learnt that the same problem is being experienced at other regional courts across the country, such as at Gobabis and in the South.According to sources, this has been going on for a month, and there has been no indication when the problem will be solved.The Namibian contacted Justice Permanent Secretary Steve Katjiuanjo for comment.He confirmed that there had been a “hiccup” with regard to the availability of funds budgeted for S&Ts and that it affected all the regional and periodic courts.He said the Ministry had transferred funds from other budget categories and court sessions should continue as normal from now on.