Court case registrations remain high in Namibia - nbc

Описание: Case registrations in Namibia's courts have remained high over the past year.

The workload in the High Court's Civil Stream has increased sharply, rising from just over 300 cases per judge in 2024 to more than 600 cases per judge in 2025.

Chief Justice Peter Shivute released the figures, which point to mounting pressure across the judiciary.

The strain is largely attributed to a shortage of judicial officers and ongoing budgetary constraints.

Chief Justice Shivute says the situation has reached a critical level, worsened by the retirement of judges in both the High Court and the Supreme Court.

"The impact of these constraints is evident from the caseload data across successive legal years. During the 2024 Legal Year, a civil bench of 13 judges managed a total of 4,987 cases, translating into an average workload of approximately 384 cases per judge. In the 2025 Legal Year, the reduced civil bench managed 4295 cases. Although the overall number of cases declined only marginally, the average workload per judge rose sharply to approximately 614 cases."

Lower courts are also under strain, with the case backlog standing at more than 63.000 cases at the end of last year.

Shivute says inadequate staffing levels among administrative personnel continue to create bottlenecks, delaying case processing and the progression of matters through the judicial system.

"The frustrations expressed by judicial officers are understandable, given the sustained pressures under which they continue to serve. Recent events have drawn attention to these challenges and the need for constructive engagement around them."

The Chief Justice, however, cautioned against conduct he says is incompatible with the judicial oath and risks undermining public confidence.

"The courts command authority not only through institutional independence but also through the restraint, discipline and dignity with which judicial officers discharge their responsibilities. It is through principled dialogue and institutional processes that such concerns are best addressed."

As pressure continues to mount across all levels of the judiciary, the Chief Justice reiterated the need for decisive action so as not to impact access to timely justice.