WINDHOEK: Chief Justice, Peter Shivute, has revealed that the High Court finalised a total 6 827 civil and labour-related cases in 2023, accounting for 64 per cent of the matters heard last year.

This, he said, is a demonstration of notable efficiency in case disposal.

Shivute was speaking at the official opening of the 2024 legal year in the capital on Wednesday. At the occasion, members of the judiciary, including High Court and Supreme Court judges, observed a moment of silence in honour of the late President Hage Geingob, who died on Sunday in a Windhoek hospital. President Nangolo Mbumba, who was subsequently sworn in as Head of State, officiated the opening of the legal year.

‘Notably, 5 355 of these cases met the prescribed disposal benchmarks, leading to an impressive on-time disposal rate of 78 per cent. This achievement underscores a pattern of steady improvement in the on-time performance of the main division,’ Shivute said.

In his speech, Mbumba stressed the judiciary’s constitutional role in
the upcoming Presidential and National Assembly elections in November.

‘Our late President, Dr Hage G Geingob, named 2024 the Year of Expectations. This theme resonates with important events taking place in our country this year, among them the Presidential and National Assembly elections. The Judiciary, as an indispensable organ of State, should play its constitutional and complementary role to ensure the seamless holding of elections that are free and fair,’ Mbumba said.

He further stressed government’s commitment in providing budgetary funding to the Office of the Judiciary to enhance its capacity.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency