Too little for justice – Ekandjo
MPs bemoan budget allocation, justice system
Justice minister Yvonne Dausab this week tabled her budget allocation of N$446.3 million, but Jerry Ekandjo says it should be increased to at least 5% of the national budget.
Swapo Member of Parliament Jerry Ekandjo has expressed dissatisfaction over the budget allocation for the justice ministry, which in his view means ‘justice delayed will be justice denied’.
Justice minister Yvonne Dausab this week tabled her budget allocation of N$446.3 million for approval in Parliament.
Ekandjo argued that the amount should be increased to at least 5% of the national budget, stressing that young law graduates are roaming the streets while cases are piling up because of a lack of manpower. The budget makes no room for recruitment of new staff, he said.
“We expect the courts do justice, yet at the lower courts, the cases are piling up. There’s no manpower. Those officials in the ministry of finance are cutting to the bones, but how will the wheel of justice turn if we allocate less than 1% [of the national budget]? Can we really talk about the independence of the judiciary if the budget is less than 1%?” he asked.
Deputy information minister Emma Teofelus echoed Ekandjo sentiments that government can do better with the justice ministry’s budget, adding that it is no secret that accessing the courts is expensive.
She said the small claims court, once implemented, would assist the lower courts where systems are cumbersome and staff are struggling. Litigants ought to be enticed to go the mediation route more often, she added.
“I really appreciate the mediation service that the courts have, and personally I think those have been the most successful cases. The cases get concluded much quicker in a less cumbersome process. Sometimes the parties often work out the cases without going through the ugly court process,” she said.
‘Weak judges’
Meanwhile, Landless People’s Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi said weak judges and magistrates are appointed, but those with “good reputations” are never appointed as High Court judges.
“Part of what I have seen is you can look at the acting judge assigned to your case to know the policy decision that is already taken about your case. If there is a white Namibian who is acting judge, you know they are going to take an unpopular decision and the blacks are removed so that they are seen as partisan.
“One wonders and it seems part of it is political and part of it is to use certain groups to make the judiciary seem independent enough and to have senior judges exert control by prolonged acting judge positions,” he said.
He added that acting judges are only taken from specific law firms, which - in most cases - are aligned with the ruling Swapo Party.
Popular Democratic Movement’s Vipua Muhaurkua chipped in that whenever High Court judges are appointed, it must always be the white and black, and there is an impression that these appointments are done to appease some sectors.
“What are we appeasing to always strike these kinds of appointments?” he asked.
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Justice minister Yvonne Dausab this week tabled her budget allocation of N$446.3 million for approval in Parliament.
Ekandjo argued that the amount should be increased to at least 5% of the national budget, stressing that young law graduates are roaming the streets while cases are piling up because of a lack of manpower. The budget makes no room for recruitment of new staff, he said.
“We expect the courts do justice, yet at the lower courts, the cases are piling up. There’s no manpower. Those officials in the ministry of finance are cutting to the bones, but how will the wheel of justice turn if we allocate less than 1% [of the national budget]? Can we really talk about the independence of the judiciary if the budget is less than 1%?” he asked.
Deputy information minister Emma Teofelus echoed Ekandjo sentiments that government can do better with the justice ministry’s budget, adding that it is no secret that accessing the courts is expensive.
She said the small claims court, once implemented, would assist the lower courts where systems are cumbersome and staff are struggling. Litigants ought to be enticed to go the mediation route more often, she added.
“I really appreciate the mediation service that the courts have, and personally I think those have been the most successful cases. The cases get concluded much quicker in a less cumbersome process. Sometimes the parties often work out the cases without going through the ugly court process,” she said.
‘Weak judges’
Meanwhile, Landless People’s Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi said weak judges and magistrates are appointed, but those with “good reputations” are never appointed as High Court judges.
“Part of what I have seen is you can look at the acting judge assigned to your case to know the policy decision that is already taken about your case. If there is a white Namibian who is acting judge, you know they are going to take an unpopular decision and the blacks are removed so that they are seen as partisan.
“One wonders and it seems part of it is political and part of it is to use certain groups to make the judiciary seem independent enough and to have senior judges exert control by prolonged acting judge positions,” he said.
He added that acting judges are only taken from specific law firms, which - in most cases - are aligned with the ruling Swapo Party.
Popular Democratic Movement’s Vipua Muhaurkua chipped in that whenever High Court judges are appointed, it must always be the white and black, and there is an impression that these appointments are done to appease some sectors.
“What are we appeasing to always strike these kinds of appointments?” he asked.
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