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Technological advancement to streamline the judiciary
2007-10-05 09:08:21
By Lusekelo Philemon
The use of information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays a vital role in the social and economic development of developing countries such as Tanzania.
A quick glance at statistics readily available reveals that Africa has indeed made tremendous strides in the areas of ICT.
ICT has had a dramatic impact on modes of communication, ways of learning, and modes of service delivery, almost akin to what seems to be going elsewhere in the developed world.
In recognition to the aforementioned factors the Tanzanian government enacted an ICT policy in 2003, to ensure proper application of information and information technologies (ICTs) in socio-economic development.
The use of ICTs therefore has increased efficiency in the public service and the private sector though the speed of change is not encouraging at all.
ICT is an area that has not effectively been tapped in Tanzania, most public officials from various sectors ranging from cultural and socio-economic perspectives seem to be reluctant to capture the global high-tech.
To some extent high-ranking government officials have tried to drum-up people in the public and private sector but the results of such efforts are not that impressive either.
Most of the public officials have at one time come closer to one of the ICT training in the country but it is not clear why the country still lags behind the area of technological advancement.
Connectivity and integration have already become key requirements for cost containment, higher productivity, global competitiveness as well as efficient and effective private and public service delivery.
In that regard, full integration into the Global Information Society or Knowledge Economy, through expansion of access to, and use of ICT therefore, does not need any protracted debate.
Apart from other sectors, the legal sector in Tanzania is an area that has not priority to invest in ICT.
This therefore contributed to the poor delivery of services.
In his recent statement on ICT to the judiciary system in Tanzania, Justice Ramadhan admitted that the application of ICT in the administration of justice is still at toddler stage and needs to be taken into consideration.
One of India`s most respected lawyers Adish Aggarwala who attended the ICT international conference in Arusha said ICT is the most important tool for the country to advance its judicial system.
Aggarwala who is a president of international council of jurists and Chairman of All India Bar Association says judicial systems need to be well equipped with new technological know how to deliver better services to the public.
When interviewed in Dar es Salaam before flying to Arusha for international conference, Aggarwala revealed the fact that ICT in commercial courts has an enormous role to uplift services offered by the judicial system.
`In India for example before ICT someone had to spend more than 3 months to get certified copy of the judgment. But today it`s not the case as it takes two days only,` he says.
Aggarwala believes that the introduction of ICT in the judicial systems will make the public well informed hence reduce crimes.
`Some people do commit crimes because they`re unaware of the laws—so the use of ICT will make them understand the law of the land,` he emphases.
ICT will make legal issues more efficient and in turn create a more civilized society.
He observes that efficient judicial system will therefore create an enabling working environment for service providers and the public in general.
According to the Indian representative who is also Academic Council Member of Chanakya National Law University, the idea would also encourage business to grow faster because investors feel more secured in a country where there is an efficient rule of law.
`These new technologies offer opportunities for judicial system to render justice more accessible, transparent and effective,` he says.
The law protects investments as well as customers on their side.
This can not be possible without having an improved judicial system coupled with modern facilities.
`Most business houses like to invest in areas where there is strong judiciary system that can be able to deliver services in time,` Aggarwala says.
It is in this light that Tanzania and other African countries need to embrace the idea by computerizing the legal system in an effort to stream line operations.
Electronic networks are increasingly becoming the mode of payment and a valuable source of information on products and services.
`ICT has a Multiple roles including scaling down crime rates in the country and also speeding up the country`s socio-economic development,` says Aggarwala, who is also Senior Central Government Counsel, Supreme Court.
Aggarwala explains that the spread of ICT will also create more employment opportunities among young Tanzanians.
`I`m sure if people are equipped with computer technology they will be able to generate income and also tap all potential business opportunities from abroad,` he adds.
He acknowledges that ICT is one of the areas which have not been tapped in Africa and Tanzania in particular.
`If properly utilized ICT will contribute towards country`s socio-economic development and bring a drastic change in Tanzania and Africa`s economy in general.
It is the right time for African countries to embark on ICT for tangible benefits that will make people to step-out of poverty, he says.
The Arusha conference which is hosted by the High Court of Tanzania (Commercial Division), envelopes 26 high-profile lawyer participants from Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Mauritius, India, United Kingdom and Australia.
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