Chief Justice Peter Shivute said pressures on the lower courts are expected to increase with the impending introduction of the new divorce legislation.

Justice Shivute said this will place an even greater burden on magistrates court staff.

The Office of the Judiciary, in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), is hosting a two-day annual Magistrates' Conference at Swakopmund.

The Conference brings together magistrates to discuss and deliberate on issues such as the rule of law, constitutionalism, good governance, protection of human rights, and judicial administration.

Delivering a keynote address, Chief Justice Shivute said it is important that magistrates explore how to better manage a growing workload, ensuring that justice remains timely, accessible, and fair.

He pointed out that it is important that rules of procedure are applied consistently and in uniformity across all aspects of court administration. 

"This uniformity must extend beyond the work of judicial officers to encompass all court processes, from clerks to administrative staff. A unified magistrate is essential for building and maintaining public confidence in the judicial system. The magistracy must speak with one voice, not in the sense of uniform decisions on every case, but in the sense of a shared commitment to justice, fairness, and transparency. When the public sees that our courts operate consistently and uniformly, they gain confidence that the rule of law is being applied equitably across the nation."

Also speaking at the event was the Chairperson of the Magistrate Commission, Justice Boas Usiku, and Natalie Russman, Representative of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.