Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda has hailed the introduction of e-court system in some of the country’s courts, saying the digital innovation has improved access to justice, reduced case backlogs and eased prison congestion.
He said this during the opening of the 2025/26 Judicial Calendar Year, formerly known as the Sherry Party, on Friday at Chichiri Court Complex in Blantyre.
Mzikamanda said the Judiciary continued to receive positive feedback from both court users and stakeholders about the usefulness of the e-court initiative in the delivery of justice.
He said the success of the system has motivated the Judiciary to fully pursue e-justice reforms that will eventually lead to paperless courts, similar to practices in neighbouring countries.
The Chief Justice urged members of the legal profession to invest more effort and innovation in digital transformation to enhance the administration of justice.
He also said the rate of case disposal has improved significantly and that every effort was being made to help judicial officers who are lagging behind.
Mzikamanda said the Judiciary would also focus on promoting public understanding and awareness of how courts operate and justice is delivered.
He noted that improving public knowledge of the judiciary’s role is vital for accountability, transparency, and strengthening people’s trust in the justice system.
The Chief Justice said courts depend heavily on public confidence for legitimacy and effectiveness, emphasizing that the judiciary, just like the law, does not operate in a vacuum.
On his part, Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda said for Malawi to achieve its vision of becoming an inclusively wealthy and industrialized nation, the justice system must evolve to support that ambition.
He said justice reform was not a side issue, but the foundation of national development because a fair and transparent legal system attracts investment, innovation, and stability.
Nyirenda said modernising courts through digitalisation and innovation would help reduce case backlogs and make justice more accessible, especially to vulnerable and marginalised groups.
He said a strong and ethical legal profession, coupled with an independent and well-resourced judiciary, was essential to building public trust and confidence in the justice system.
Malawi Law Society president Davis Njobvu commended the judiciary for the progress made in improving access to justice through reforms and digitalisation.
He said it was unfair for the public to brand the entire judiciary as corrupt or incompetent because most judges are professional, upright, and hardworking.
