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Tanzania Goes High Tech
The introduction of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) in service delivery at the High Court-Commercial Division is a blessing in disguise as far as timely dispensation of justice for all is concerned.
This was said in Dar es Salaam by the Chief Justice of Zanzibar, Omar Othman Makungu, when touring the court.
Mr Makungu said he was much impressed with how it was now simple to access information regarding cases in the court.
"I am personally very impressed with the system as we are looking forward to establish a commercial division in the Isles," he said.
Justice Makungu noted that plans for the establishment of the proposed division were set, and already a plot has been allocated for the Division and that it would start anytime late this year or early next year.
Earlier, the High Court-Commercial Division Registrar, Mr John Kahyoza, said the court's mission was to provide just, quality, efficient, effective and speedy disposal of commercial cases through modern systems and practices.
He said that through the Digital Recording System, the Division records court proceedings and transcribed them.
"The practice eases the proceedings as judges are no longer required to write everything that is been said in the court.
"It is also much simpler in making reference on previous cases,'' he said.
Judge Kahyoza said that all cases filed with the court are now registered electronically for production of case list and uploading on the website through the Division's website hence easy access to all.
He added that the Division also has an e-Library which enables members of judiciary to access books from the judicial library physically and online for those who are provided with passwords.
He noted that the Division's Mobile Application System (MAS) enables access to case related information using mobile phones handset. The telephone companies involved are Vodacom, Tigo and Airtel.
"On your mobile handset, open a message page then text 'Kesi' or 'case'' or 'wahusika' or 'parties', leave a space and write a case number (e.g. 11/2011), send it to 15564 and a reply will provide information on the dates, time, hour, and chamber," he said.
He pointed out some of the challenges as including, shortage of transcribers and stenographers leading to delayed transcription of all audio records, lack of rules governing recording of proceedings and absence of an established ICT department in the Judiciary.
Others includes, insufficient budget for ICT, insufficient skills capacity of ICT personnel and staff, missing of records due technical hitch and lack of electricity back up during the power failure among others.
''We are planning to improve and extend Recording System to sub-registries in upcountry regions and build a kiosk where plaintiffs will be researching information about their cases,'' he said.
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