President of Zanzibar Hussein Ali Mwini stressed that, despite the importance of technology for updating the justice system, their success cannot be based solely on digital solutions. It should be based on honesty, responsibility and patriotism among lawyers.
This statement was made at the opening of the 26th Annual General Meeting of the Zanzibar Law Society (ZLS), which was held under the slogan «Using digital technologies to improve and ensure accessibility of the justice system in Zanzibar». He stressed that technology should help improve efficiency, but not replace human qualities, justice and public trust in the judiciary. «Technology should serve as a tool to increase productivity, rather than cause a loss of humanity, equality, and public trust in judicial institutions. We must continue to build Zanzibar with a legal system that is reliable and accessible to everyone without exception», he said.
Mwigny noted that a technologically advanced justice system can reach more citizens, including those living in remote areas, while reducing delays, costs and obstacles to justice. He stressed that the rule of law is the foundation for development, peace and prosperity, pointing out that no economy can flourish without trust in the justice system. «It is impossible to create a strong economy, attract investors or improve the business environment if citizens and investors do not trust justice», he said. He called on lawyers to be the guarantors of confidence in the investment climate, stressing that ethical and competent lawyers are essential for a safe business environment. «The legal profession is a high honor that requires considerable integrity and responsibility. Therefore, lawyers should be excellent advisers and defenders of justice, and not use their profession for personal gain», he added.
The Chief Justice of Zanzibar, Khamis Ramadan Abdallah, said that case management and hearing management systems have already been implemented in the judicial system, and trials have recently begun to be conducted under a new digital structure. Lawyers are being urged to master these platforms as the system moves towards full digitalization by July this year. However, he noted the difficulties in implementation, stating that some specialists are not yet fully ready to use these systems. «We are facing problems, as even judges are now required to have computers to keep records. This raises concerns, so they need auxiliary equipment such as audio and video recording devices, but we must begin the transition to these systems», he said.
The outgoing president of ZLS, Joseph Shaaban Maghazi, stressed that lawyers must ensure that technology contributes to the improvement of the judicial system and corresponds to global trends in the legal field. Earlier, Zakayo Lukumai, a professor at the Institute of Legal Practice Training, noted that technology should be under the control of the justice system, and not the other way around, emphasizing the importance of creating a reliable system that keeps pace with scientific and technological progress. He pointed out that such changes would facilitate access to justice and help reduce the backlog of cases, adding that Zanzibar has the potential to become a hub for alternative dispute resolution.
Alex Beck, head of the Security and Justice Department at the British High Commission, noted that digital reforms go beyond the simple introduction of technology and require a review of approaches to the administration of justice. He stressed that the UK has been supporting the Zanzibar judicial system for a long time, including a recent collaboration to create a digital dashboard that helps institutions collect and share data more effectively.
