A periodic magistrate’s court is set to open in the Oshikoto regional capital of Omuthiya by the end of October this year to help reduce the number of cases handled by the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court.

Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court chief legal clerk, Christian Shafudah during an evaluation meeting on a periodic court for Omuthiya here on Monday said more than 67 per cent of the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court cases come from Omuthiya.

He said on average, 45 to 60 inmates from Omuthiya appear in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on a daily basis.

‘We want to curb this influx of cases from Omuthiya and the surrounding areas by opening a court in Omuthiya so that these cases are dealt with in the area,’ Shafudah said.

He added that opening a periodic court would also reduce transport costs for people who travel 87 kilometres to the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court to attend cases and 167 kilometres to attend the Tsumeb Magistrate’s Court.

‘This will also help to cut costs for witness compensation such as traveling expens
es, money spent on refreshments and meals, overnight subsistence, and other money lost when the witnesses come to testify in court,’ said Shafudah.

The periodic court will be operated from the Ondangwa court until they have established a fully functioning court.

‘The main court is in Ondangwa but our judicial staff will commute daily from Ondangwa to Omuthiya to deal with cases as the court will function throughout the week,’ said Shafudah.

These staff members will include a magistrate, prosecutor, and administration staff such as a clerk and court interpreter.

‘We have a plot in Omuthiya but we are waiting for the budget so we can develop it,’ Shafudah added.

Source: The Namibia News Agency