Court Handbooks developed for Zambia and Zanzibar

Court staff in Zambia and Zanzibar, Tanzania, will be given a Handbook to help them increase efficiency and professionalism in their respective justice systems.

Funding for printing 400 copies of the Handbook for Zanzibar and 200 copies for Zambia is being provided by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The goal of the Handbook is “the promotion of access to justice for all and the application of the rule of law,” said Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Director of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division at the Secretariat.

In addition to the Handbooks being distributed, the Secretariat is also providing training for senior court administrators and advice on juvenile justice, case file management, printing of laws, case flow management and appeal procedures. The training on the use of the Handbook will provide the judiciary and court support staff with sufficient knowledge to comprehend fully and be able to apply the information in the Handbook in their day to day work.

“Increasing efficiency and professionalism of the court staff, who in turn can offer well-informed advice on court procedures, is the main aim of the programme,” said Kevin Maguire, Legal Adviser at the Secretariat.

Mr Maguire worked alongside the judiciaries in Zambia and Zanzibar, to produce the handbook.

Court office administration, courtroom procedures, jurisdictional procedures and a code of conduct are all included in the Handbook to assist the judiciary and court staff in reducing delays and improving access to justice and the independence of the judiciary.

“The need to professionalise the administration of justice is critical to ensuring the efficient running of a court system. Any attempts to improve these systems and reduce delays in the courts must involve professional court staff that are able to identify and implement new procedures and thus make the courts more accessible to the citizens of their countries,” added Mr Maguire.

“The introduction of Court Handbooks, as well as training in how to use them effectively, goes a long way to meeting the requirements of a professional court administration,” he concluded.

Key Links:

• Law
• Country Profile: Zambia
• Country Profile: United Republic of Tanzania