Chief Justice Mumba Malila has officially opened a Training of Trainers Workshop for the Judiciary’s Electronic Case Management System, as the institution moves to replace paper-based court administration with digital operations.
The nationwide system is expected to improve access to justice by reducing delays, preventing the loss of court files and allowing lawyers and litigants to file and track cases electronically without repeatedly visiting court registries.
Speaking during the opening, Justice Malila says the traditional paper-based system has for years slowed the delivery of justice, with some litigants travelling hundreds of kilometres only to be told that their files cannot be found.
He says the electronic platform will promote transparency, speed and accountability by enabling real-time case tracking, electronic filing and notifications, while allowing lawyers to access court services remotely.
Meanwhile, Advisory Committee on Training and Continuing Education Chairperson Justice Pixie Yangailo says successful implementation of the system will depend on continuous training of Judiciary personnel to ensure they can effectively operate it.
And Law Association of Zambia President Arnold Kaluba says the system is expected to address long-standing concerns among legal practitioners and citizens over delayed cases and missing court files.
By Josphat Hamakala
