Zanzibar to host Chief Justices’ meeting
ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR is looking forward to host the Annual General Meeting of the Southern and Eastern African Chief Justices Forum (SEACJF), bringing together Chief Justices and senior judicial officials from across the region.
The meeting will provide an important platform for judicial leaders to deliberate on key reforms, share experiences and best practices and explore strategies for strengthening justice systems and improving the delivery of justice across the region.
The meeting will be held from October 5 to 9, 2026, here in the isles and is expected to attract about 150 participants and invited guests, including 16 Chief Justices from Southern and Eastern African countries.
Speaking to journalists at the High Court of Zanzibar in Tunguu recently, Zanzibar Chief Justice Khamis Ramadhani Abdalla said the judiciary had been honoured to host the regional gathering, which would provide an opportunity for judicial leaders to exchange experiences and address challenges facing justice delivery.
He said SEACJF was established in South Africa in 2003 as a platform for cooperation among judiciaries, focusing on strengthening professional collaboration, improving judicial administration and developing strategies to uphold the rule of law and good governance.
The meeting will be held under the theme, “Transforming Justice Delivery: Innovation, Efficiency and Court Administration Reform,” with discussions focusing on innovation, efficiency and reforms in court administration.
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Key issues on the agenda include judicial leadership in driving institutional reforms, mediation in the judicial system and digital transformation, including electronic filing, virtual hearings and case management systems.
According to Chief Justice Abdalla, Zanzibar will make a presentation on digital transformation in the judiciary, while participants will also discuss the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in justice delivery and strategies for developing courts of the future.
The meeting will further examine ways of strengthening court administration through professional development, training and institutional support for judicial officers and other staff. Participants are also expected to discuss measures to strengthen judicial independence, accountability and integrity across the region.
Chief Justice Abdalla said SEACJF members include Lesotho, Eswatini, Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Seychelles, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zanzibar. He said President Hussein Mwinyi is expected to officially open the meeting, while Botswana Vice-President and Minister for Finance, Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe, is also expected to attend.
Chief Justice Abdalla said hosting the meeting would enable Zanzibar to share experiences in technology, case management, AI and alternative dispute resolution while strengthening judicial cooperation. He added that the gathering would also promote Zanzibar as a conference tourism destination and provide participants with an opportunity to visit its historical and tourist attractions.
