Plans to improve the Otavi Magistrate's Court are on the recommendation cards following a visit by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Capital Projects and Legal Affairs, which found the building not conducive to court sessions.

This was confirmed by committee chairperson Tjekero Tweya during a courtesy call to the Otjozondjupa Governors Office, represented by Regional Council Chairperson Marlene Mbakera.

For years now, the Otavi Magistrate's Court has been under scrutiny to have it upgraded into a proper court building as opposed to the current state it is in, as it has compromised security and poses a danger to staff.

Another concern raised is a lack of legal aid houses and mobile courts set up in the town and the region, despite indications that such provisions were addressed through the medium-term expenditure frameworks.

Marlene Mbakera, on her part, called on the Otavi Town Council to kick-start plans to allocate land to the Ministry of Justice to build a court.

The six-member committee also visited the Grootfontein, Otjiwarongo, and Okakarara Magistrate's courts to assess or confirm the progress of the MTEF projects and establish needs that should be addressed in the report to be tabled to Parliament.