Allexer Namundjembo
The office of the judiciary says it is working to address long-standing complaints about the lack of magistrates’ courts in several major towns across the country.
Judiciary executive director Bernhard Kukuri, told the Windhoek Observer on Monday measures are underway to bring court services closer to communities.
He revealed that in Omuthiya, Oshikoto region, a house has been secured to serve as a temporary court.
This will divert cases that are currently heard in Ondangwa and provide immediate relief to residents.
“We cannot build now, but the house that we have managed to acquire will now be used as a court in the meantime until such a time that funds are available to construct a proper facility. We will now start to offload matters that are currently going to Ondangwa. For civil matters, we will look into whether additional facilities can be linked to provide services from there,” he said.
He noted that although the judiciary’s capital budget this financial year is focused on a new court project in Nkurenkuru, towns such as Omuthiya and Okahao remain priorities for future development.
For the 2025/26 fiscal year, the judiciary has been allocated a total of N$600.98 million, reflecting an increase from the previous year.
Of this amount, N$534.9 million is set aside for operations, while N$66 million is earmarked for development projects.
The allocation is divided across four programmes.
The Supreme Court adjudication and administration receives N$36.8 million. The High Court adjudication and administration is allocated N$116.6 million. The lower courts’ adjudication and administration takes the largest share with N$240.9 million. Meanwhile, policy, support, and coordination are allocated N$206.7 million.
Kukuri’s remarks come after years of appeals from regional leaders. Last year, former Oshikoto governor Penda ya Ndakolo appealed for the urgent construction of a magistrate’s court in Omuthiya, stressing that residents have had to travel up to 170 kilometres to Tsumeb or more than 100 kilometres to Ondangwa for hearings or marriages.
A parliamentary oversight visit by the standing committee on constitutional and legal affairs also revealed that about 80% of cases handled at Ondangwa originate from Oshikoto.
The judiciary has long acknowledged the need for expanded court infrastructure.
In 2018, chief justice Peter Shivute disclosed that plans for an Omuthiya court had already been drafted, but construction was waiting on financial resources.
Since gaining administrative independence in 2015 under Article 78 (5) of the Constitution, the Judiciary has been responsible for its own administration and budget, separate from the ministry of justice. The Office of the Judiciary currently employs about 1 000 staff members and is headed by the Chief Justice, who oversees norms and standards across all courts.
Kukuri admitted that financial constraints remain a challenge but said judiciary is committed to gradually expanding access to justice.
“We are aware that Omuthiya, Nkurenkuru and Okahao are major towns without courts. These remain on our agenda.”
