JUDICIAL COMMUNICATION ROUNDTABLE PARTICIPANTS DEPART CAPE TOWN WITH COMMON UNDERSTANDING

By FAUSTINE KAPAMA-Dar es Salaam, just back from Cape Town

The African Judicial Exchange Network Roundtable, which was organized by CEELI Institute at Pullman Hotel City Centre in Cape Town, South Africa, was concluded yesterday dated September 17, 2026.

Such roundtable brought participants from Tanzania, Ghana, North Macedonia and Namibia, Uganda, Gambia, The Netherlands, Malawi, Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, France, Czech Republic, United States of America and the host country, South Africa.

The participants described the roundtable as successful, as the topics presented contains important matters enabling them to understand the proper person, who is supposed tom speak for the Judiciary.

They could not prefer the Chief Justice to be in a fore front to avoid embarrassments as happened in one case, where the Head of the Judiciary issued a statement concerning demonstration, which was later misinterpreted. The Chief Justice had to come back to the media to clarify what he meant.

Before the conclusion of the three-day roundtable, which started on September 15, 2026, the participants were take through Artificial Intelligence (AI) in judicial communication and digitalization.

During the session, District Judge from United States, Hon. John Tunheim talked about Federal Judicial Centre’s AI toolkit and Judge from Poland, Hon. Greg Borkowski explained about European Judicial Training Strategy 2025-2023.

On her part, Advocate Lynn Coleridge from South Africa explained about perspectives on AI from a judicial training institute.

Thereafter, the participants were taken through plans for dissemination of the guidelines, next year activities and final remarks were given, before allowing judges to hold the Africa Judicial Network Core Group Meeting.

During the three-day conference, the participants were engaged in a cross-regional dialogue on key challenges facing contemporary judicial systems. They also discussed various issues relating to judicial communication, independence, rule of law and public trust.

The roundtable also touched upon the growing role of digitalization and artificial intelligence in judicial systems, examining the potential to enhance efficiency while considering the ethical, legal and regulatory challenges they raise.

In parallel, sessions on judicial communication explored how courts can effectively with the public, address complex or sensitive issues and maintain public confidence, including discussions on the scope and limits of judges’ freedom of expression.

Judge in Charge of the High Court of Tanzania, Morogoro Sub-Registry, Hon. Rose Ebrahim in a smiling mood on the last day of the African Judicial Exchange Network Roundtable. Picture below are other participants to the roundtable.

Coordinators of the African Judicial Exchange Network Roundtable, Mr Marek Svoboda (left) and Ms Monique Kamies. Picture below are other participants to the roundtable.

Another section of participants to the African Judicial Exchange Network Roundtable (two pictures above and belw) following what was going on on the last day.