By Benadetta Chiwanda Mia:
The Malawi Judiciary has launched its first-ever ICT Policy and inaugurated an ICT laboratory, marking what it calls a major step towards modernising the justice system through technology.
The new policy provides a framework to guide the planning, deployment and management of ICT resources to improve access to justice, enhance efficiency and strengthen accountability in judicial operations.
Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda said the digital transformation will help reduce case backlogs and minimise delays.
“This complements the e-court system which we launched in some districts in the recent past because, as you know, we have been discussing digitising the judiciary for some time so that people do not have to travel to those districts for certain cases,” Mzikamanda said.
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He added that the Judiciary is embracing technology and innovation to make justice delivery faster, smarter and more inclusive.
“The poor and less privileged now have a chance to reach the courts. With this policy, we expect improved delivery of justice because that is what people want. We expect that we will speed up the delivery of justice,” Mzikamanda said.
The Judiciary has also opened an ICT laboratory equipped with 16 state-of-the-art computers.
The facility will serve as a training and innovation hub for judicial officers and staff to build their digital skills and support e-justice initiatives.
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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supported the development of the ICT Policy and the establishment of the laboratory under the Access to Justice Project.
UNDP Resident Representative Fenella Frost said the facility will be a centre for training, legal research and innovation.
“Digital transformation is about ensuring that every Malawian, regardless of who they are or where they live, can access justice that is fair, timely and dignified,” Frost said.
Frost added that the initiative builds on the success of the e-court system, jointly implemented by UNDP and the Judiciary, which has already saved Malawi around K375 million over 15 months through virtual platforms.
UNDP invested approximately $200,000 (approximately K346 million) in the development of the ICT Policy and laboratory, both of which were recommended at the 2024 e-Justice National Conference.
