Chief Justice Peter Shivute has called for stronger efforts to introduce plea bargaining as a practical way to reduce pressure on the courts.

Shivute was speaking at the opening of the National Conference on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Windhoek. 

Chief Justice Shivute said access to justice is not just a goal but a constitutional responsibility and a moral obligation. 

He pointed out that while plea bargaining is still new in Namibia, it has already proven successful in other countries, including many across Africa. 

He added that it also helps to reduce case backlogs and shorten long trial delays.

"ADR was officially introduced in the High Court in Namibia. Many matters that would have otherwise gone to trial have since been resolved."

Shivute referred to a 2019 draft bill on plea bargaining, saying it laid the groundwork for renewed action on the matter.

Uganda's Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo stressed the need for justice reforms across Africa. 

Owiny-Dollo said there is a need for improving access to justice, which requires collaboration and the formation of strategic partnerships to support ADR efforts.

"If you come to the formal courts, the court is not able to render fast justice delivery; it takes up to 7 years in court. You can imagine the burden the judicial officers face in Uganda; you will find a file tucked away in the safe, the files run from the desk up to the ceiling."

Justice Owiny-Dollo urged African countries to take a hard look at their current criminal justice systems and consider introducing new tools, like pre-judgment processes, to ease the burden on courts and deliver justice faster.

He added that most African nations inherited legal systems from colonial powers, which may not always meet local and current needs. 

Owiny-Dollo called on governments and judiciaries to develop justice systems that reflect African realities and serve their people better.