From FAUSTINE KAPAMA-Judiciary, Kingston Jamaica
The Commonwealth
Magistrates' and Judges Association (CMJA) Annual Conference, which was being
held here, bringing together Judges and Magistrates from Commonwealth countries
to discuss various judicial issues, has been concluded today September 23, 2026.
The President of the CMJA,
Justice Richard Williams, thanked the Chief Justices, Judges and other members
of the Association for their support and ensuring the Conference is successful.
He also thanked the Chief
Justice of Jamaica for his tireless efforts to ensure everything was going on well.
He further thanked hotel staff, security as well as Organizing Committee. Each
member of the Committee was awarded a certificate for recognizing their contribution.
“I want to thank every
one for the support of the Association, your attendance and participation was
very crucial. It was a long journey and I heard some travelled for three days. I
thank you for your dedication to the association,” he said.
The next CMJA Annual
Conference will be held at Papua New Guinea, an island country that lies in the
south-western Pacific. It includes the eastern half of New Guinea and many
small offshore islands.
Its neighbours include
Indonesia to the west, Australia to the south and Solomon Islands to the
south-east. It is mainly mountainous but has low-lying plains in southern New
Guinea.
Papua New Guinea has several
active volcanoes. Its capital is Port Moresby. The country's
462,840 km2 includes a large mainland and hundreds of islands.
The Conference was organized
with theme titled; ‘Sustainable Justice For Today, For Tomorrow, For All.’ Various
judicial issues were discussed within
the broader context of the administration of justice.
Among topics discussed includes Improving performance and
enhancing accountability; Open Justice versus Privacy in the Courts; Is Justice
Dysfunctional, on its knees with chronic underfunding and Judicial Bullying and
Harassment: Could it happen to you.
Others are Understanding
and dealing with GBV; Current tensions between Judicial Independence and the
Rule of Law; Judicial Well-Being: mental health and physical health and Writing
Judgment and not novels.”
The participants to the
Conference also sat in specialized groups to discuss different issues,
including Challenges to Arbitral Awards; Coroners and Pirates: Bodies, Wrecks
and Treasures; The Lay Magistracy: Surviving 800 years of Change; Conflicting
Rights of the Child and the Parents; Military Justice-What next and Admiralty:
Crooked Captains, Escaping Ships.
There were breakout
discussion groups to discuss various topics, notably “ Are you on a daily diet
of vulnerable witnesses or awkward litigants and Protecting Ourselves from
online and Physical Threats.”
The Conference was
officiated by Jamaican Prime Minister, Hon. Andre Michael Holness, who expressed
commitment of rule of law and effective judiciaries, insisting that the rule of
law is fundamental to the functioning of free and democratic society.
He told the Conference
that the rule of law protects rights and liberties of every citizen and establishes
framework within which disputes are resolved peacefully.
“Rule of law provides
businesses and investors the confidence that agreements will be respected and
property rights protected and critically, it ensures that no person or
institution stands above the law,” the Prime Minister said.
The opening ceremony was
also attended by Governor-General,
His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, who noted that the delegates
were meeting at a consequential time for the administration of justice.
He pointed out that the
courts over which they preside today bear little resemblance, in some respects,
to those of a generation ago, due to technology altering the way that justice
is administered.
The Governor General also
noted that gatherings such as the CMJA Conference are important in providing a
space in which judicial officers may learn from one another, confront common
challenges and strengthen the principles upon which the administration of
justice depends.
He said that while the
respective legal systems may differ in scale and circumstance, they are
connected by a profound responsibility to preserve public confidence in justice
and to ensure that the institutions of justice are strengthened.
Nine Judges and 15 other
judicial officers from the Judiciary of Tanzania participated in the 2026 CMJA,
with Principal Judge of the High Court of Tanzania, Hon. Dr. Mustapher Mohamed Siyani, leading the
delegation from the Judiciary Heaquaters.
On the other hand,
President of the Tanzania Magistrate and Judges Association (TMJA), who is also
Deputy Registrar of the High Court of Tanzania, Hon. Elimo Massawe, lead TMJA leaders
and members from the Judiciary of Tanzania.
The delegation included
three Justices of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Latifa Mansoor, who is also TMJA Vice-President,
Hon. Dr. Yose Mlyambina and Hon. Yohana Masara, who also doubles as Principal
Judge of the East African Court of Justice.
Others were five Judges
of the High Court, Hon. Dr. Adam Mambi, Hon. Butamo Phillip, Hon. Sharmillah
Sarwatt, Hon. Dr. Angelo Rumisha and Hon. Aisha
Sinda.
Also included the Chief
Registrar of the Judiciary of Tanzania, Hon. Eva Nkya, Registrar of the Court
of Appeal, Hon. George Hebert, Court of Appeal Administrator Victor Kategere
and Senior Deputy Registrar, Hon. Sundi Fimbo.
In the same boat are Personal
Assistant to the Chief Justice and Deputy Registrar, Hon. Venance Mlingi, Personal
Assistant to the Principal Judge and Deputy Registrar, Hon. Aidan
Mwilapwa, Personal Assistant to the Chief Registrar and Deputy Registrar,
Hon. Dr. Jovin Bishanga and two other Deputy Registrars, Hon. Franco
Kiswaga and Hon. Kifungu Mrisho.
Other officials were Secretary
General of the TMJA, who is Senior Resident Magistrates, James
Mniko, TMJA Deputy Secretary General and Senior Resident
Magistrate, Hon. Tedy Mlimba, TMJA Treasurer and Senior Resident
Magistrate, Hon. Devotha Kasebele and Publicity Secretary of TMJA and
Resident Magistrate, Hon. Fratern Temba.
The rest were Principal In
the same boat are Personal Assistant to the Chief Justice and Deputy Registrar,
Hon. Venance Mlingi, Personal Assistant to the Principal Judge and Deputy
Registrar, Hon. Aidan Mwilapwa, Personal Assistant to the Chief Registrar
and Deputy Registrar, Hon. Dr. Jovin Bishanga and two other Deputy
Registrars, Hon. Franco Kiswaga and Hon. Kifungu Mrisho.
Resident Magistrates, Hon. Wilberforce
Luhwago, Hon. Julieth Musiza and Hon. Adinani Kingazi and Resident
Magistrate, Hon. Hassani Chuka. Accompanying the delegation is
Protocol Officer Fadhili Mgutta.
The President of the Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges Association, Justice Richard Williams, speaking at the closing session.


















































