Published on 06/09/2024
Chief Justice Khamis Ramadhan Abdalla of Zanzibar visited the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) in Arusha, Tanzania.
His visit aimed to accelerate Zanzibar’s judiciary digitization and foster closer collaboration with the regional court. This marks a pivotal step toward modernizing legal systems and reinforcing regional ties.
Hon. Khamis emphasised the importance of building the capacity of litigants from Zanzibar in understanding EAC Law and the procedures for filing cases at the EACJ, given that Zanzibar operates under two legal systems that is Common Law and Sharia Law.
Hon. Khamis disclosed that the Judiciary of Zanzibar is currently in the process of establishing a Case Management System, adding that the primary objective of the visit was to learn from and benchmark against the EACJ’s practices.
“The Government of Zanzibar is committed to enhancing its judiciary to align with the broader legal frameworks of the East African Community,” said Hon. Khamis.
“Zanzibar Judiciary is eager to learn from the experiences and expertise of the EACJ as we work towards establishing a fair, impartial and efficient justice system,” Hon. Khamis added.
Receiving the Zanzibar CJ, EACJ Judge President Nestor Kayobera highlighted the significance of judicial cooperation, saying that regular interactions between national and international judiciaries allow for the exchange of experiences, best practices and mutual learning.
He commended Hon. Khamis for his historic visit, following the recent visit by the Chief Justice of the Federal Republic of Somalia, adding that such engagements would strengthen unity between national and regional judiciaries, ultimately benefiting the entire Community.
Justice Kayobera further underscored the importance of Zanzibar, as a part of the EAC, understanding the role of the EACJ in interpreting the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC and its functions.
The Judge President said that the EAC, being a people-centred organisation, relies on effective judicial collaboration to ensure the smooth functioning of the bloc and to contribute to regional integration on judicial matters.
On his, EACJ Principal Judge Hon. Justice Yohane Masara expressed hope that the Judiciary of Zanzibar, following the CJ’s visit, would become a strong advocate for the EACJ and pledged the regional Court’s support for Zanzibar’s ongoing judicial reforms.
Also, in attendance at the event were: Her Worship Christine Mutimura-Wekesa, the Deputy Registrar of the EACJ; Khamis Rashid, Deputy Registrar of the High Court of Zanzibar; Shiash Mohamed, Personal Assistant to the Chief Justice; Mohamed Salum Mohamed, Planning Officer for the Judiciary of Zanzibar; EACJ Court Administrator Ferdinand Ntakintije; and EACJ staff.
