Namibia Attorney General Mr. Festus Mbandeka
By Julius Iddrisa Manganda
A delegation from the Office of the Attorney General of Namibia, led by Attorney General Mr. Festus Mbandeka, is in Zimbabwe to strengthen existing relations and share legal experiences.
The delegation met with Zimbabwe’s Attorney General, Mrs. Virginia Mabhiza, at her offices in Harare on Thursday to discuss several cooperation issues.
The two countries have a long history of cooperation, dating back to the liberation struggles of the 1970s and 1980s.
Speaking to the media after a closed-door meeting, Mr. Mbandeka said he was in Zimbabwe to gain knowledge that would improve legal institutions.
“The purpose of the visit is to consolidate the existing relationship between our two countries and our two offices, the Office of the Attorney General of Namibia and the Office of the Attorney General of Zimbabwe,” he said.
“We are here to learn from our colleagues and also to understand how the institutions operate, the setup, and also the best practices that we can use to improve and reform our institutions.
“We aim to strengthen our relationship, learn from each other’s institutions, and adopt best practices to enhance our services and access to justice,” he added.
Mr. Mbandeka emphasized the importance of providing quality services, saying, “Our primary purpose is to provide quality services to our people and also to provide access to justice.”
Mrs. Mabhiza said Zimbabwe offers a valuable learning platform because its legal system is older and has undergone experiences that can benefit others.
“Zimbabwe is really old in terms of its legal system, we got our independence earlier, and we also have a lot that we have experienced over the years to enhance our judicial system,” she said.
Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980, with Namibia gaining independence a decade later. For years, they have maintained strong diplomatic ties, cooperating in areas such as trade, education, and healthcare.
The visit coincides with the SADC Industrialization Week, and Mrs. Mabhiza says this is an opportunity for leaders at various levels to interface.
“SADC is not just about heads of state meeting, it’s about us, at our level, working together to realize our leaders’ vision,” she added.
Zimbabwe is set to host the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government on August 17, 2024, in Harare.
This prestigious gathering brings together leaders from the 16 SADC Member States, along with heads of continental and regional bodies as observers.
The summit’s theme, “Promoting Innovation to unlock opportunities for sustained economic growth and development towards an Industrialised SADC,” underscores the region’s commitment to driving economic progress through innovation.
As Zimbabwe assumes the Chairmanship of SADC in August 2024, having been elected in 2023 in Luanda, Angola, the country is poised to play a key role in shaping the region’s future.
