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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa arrived here yesterday evening ahead of a double-header official opening of the Southern Africa Chief Justices’ Forum (SACJF) and Institute for Chartered Governance and Accountancy Institute of Zimbabwe (CGAIZ) conferences today.

The President will be guest of honour at both conferences which started yesterday.

He landed at Victoria Falls International Airport at 6PM, about 15 minutes after his deputy, Vice-President General (Retired) Costantino Chiwenga who welcomed him.

Also welcoming the President was Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo, Judicial Service Commission secretary Mr Walter Chikwanha, Zanu-PF Hwange district leadership and scores of supporters who reverberated to wild cheers, song and dance with the famous slogan “ED Pfee”, service chiefs and other Government officials.

There was also the Imvimbi traditional dance group to welcome the President, who took a moment in front of the dancing group members as he marvelled at their performances.

The President and VP Chiwenga then quickly left for the venue of the two conferences for a briefing ahead of today’s two official opening ceremonies.

The SACJF conference is being held under the theme: “The Judiciary and technology in Africa” and is being attended by 10 Chief Justices from Southern Africa and about 80 delegates.

The SACJF official opening is slated for this morning while the President is expected to officially open the CGAIZ conference, which also marks the institute’s 50th anniversary in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, delegates at the SACJF deliberated on various topics with the need to embrace technology topping the discussions.

The members of the bench said there is a need to leverage technological developments to improve the justice delivery system.

The chairperson of the SACJF Chief Justice Luke Malaba said the nature of justice in the digital era is a critical issue.

“The theme ‘Judiciary and technology in Africa’ is befitting especially at this time when we are faced with the Covid-19 pandemic. It is important to embrace technology as an enabler to effective justice delivery system. There are many advantages for embracing technology as people already have devices,” he said.
Delegates said the conference was an opportune time for countries to learn from each other’s experiences with regards to use of technology and online service in international and regional courts.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi had also arrived at the venue.

Minister Moyo, Attorney General Advocate Prince Machaya, Prosecutor General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi and Justice Permanent Secretary Mrs Virginia Mabhiza are among the key dignitaries for today’s official opening. — @ncubeleon