ARUSHA: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan is set to open the 21st General Meeting of the East African Magistrates and Judges Association (EAMJA), which will take place in Arusha from Monday to December 7th, this year.
Briefing journalists on the preparations for the event on Thursday, Justice of the Court of Appeal and Chairman of the Organising Committee, Dr Gerald Ndika said President Samia is scheduled to officially open the conference on Tuesday.
The conference will bring together 392 participants from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, South Sudan, mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
The theme of the meeting is “Improvement of Justice Delivery Systems to Enhance Integration and Economic Development in the East African Region.” He said one of the key topics to be discussed at the meeting is the improvement of justice in labour disputes, as many people find themselves in conflicts between employers and employees.
According to Justice Ndika, addressing such issues promptly will help to increase investor confidence, thereby attracting more investment to the East African Community (EAC) region.
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Justice Ndika said that the conference will focus on five main areas– criminal justice delivery systems, where participants will discuss programmes aimed at improving criminal justice systems, with a focus on increasing productivity and efficiency.
They will also focus on litigation systems, where discussions will cover a range of issues in the litigation system, including inheritance, employment and contract disputes.
Dr Ndika said that another area of focus will be labour disputes. He said given the growing significance of labour disputes, the conference will explore how early resolution can benefit both employees and employers, fostering a better business environment and attracting investors to the EAC region.
He said the meeting will also dwell on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Justice. The conference will highlight the use of technology in the justice system.
“Tanzania, for instance, has made significant strides in integrating ICT into court procedures, including online registration of cases, virtual hearings and the digital recording of proceedings to ease the workload on judges. The goal is to improve efficiency by enabling easy access to court decisions, which are also published online in English and Kiswahili,” Justice Ndika noted.
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Financial and border disputes will also take centre stage during the meeting. According to Dr Ndika, this session will address financial issues related to border areas and their resolution within the context of regional laws.
On December 4, judges will also participate in the election of new leaders who will guide the association for the next two years. The event will culminate with a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater on December 6, where 392 participants will explore some of Tanzania’s most iconic tourist attractions.
Founded in 2000 and officially launched in 2001 in Uganda, the EAMJA serves as a platform for judges and magistrates to discuss challenges, share experiences, and defend the independence of East African courts.
The association also works to improve the justice delivery system and the administration of law across the region.
