East African Court of Justice, Arusha, Tanzania, 30th August 2024: The Chief Justice of Zanzibar, Hon. Khamis Ramadhan Abdalla, paid an official visit to the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) in Arusha, Tanzania, as part of ongoing efforts to digitise the Judiciary of Zanzibar and strengthen ties with the regional Court.
During the visit, 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.
Caption:
Photo: Group photo with the Chief Justice of Zanzibar and the Judge President of the Court Nestor Kayobera, Principal Judge Justice Yohane Masara, EACJ Deputy Registrar Christine Mutimura and Deputy Registrar High Court Zanzibar H/W Khamis Rashid and Staff of EACJ.
About the EACJ
The East African Court of Justice (EACJ or ‘the Court’), is one of the Organs of the East African Community established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community. The Court was established in November 2001, its key mandate is to ensure the adherence to law in the interpretation and application of and compliance with the EAC Treaty. Arusha is the temporary seat of the Court until the Summit determines its permanent seat. The Court’s sub-registries are located in the capitals of the following Partner States: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania.
For more information please contact:
Christine Mutimura
Deputy Registrar,
East African Court of Justice.
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: 255-27-2162149
Email: cmwekesa@eachq.org