The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is preparing to host a regional symposium on electoral justice set for January 31 to February 2 in the resort town of Victoria Falls.

Organised by the Africa Electoral Justice Network (AEJN), the symposium will run under the theme: “Making the Dream of the African Charter a Reality: The Role of the Judiciary in Upholding the Rule of Law with specific reference to Free, Fair, and Credible Elections in Africa”.

In a statement, the JSC said the conference aims to bring together judges, legal experts, and scholars from across the region to deliberate on key issues surrounding electoral processes and the role of the judiciary in ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections.

“It aims to provide peer support for election judges and arbiters dealing with politically sensitive and challenging disputes and violations, strengthen the capacity of Election Monitoring Bodies and the judiciary to resolve electoral cases and disputes and help entrench and apply norms across the region.

“In addition, it offers an opportunity to reflect on a growing body of regional jurisprudence and discuss emerging challenges in election litigation such as the use of electronic evidence related to election technology and court-annexed mediation,” said JSC.

The symposium is expected to serve as a platform for sharing experiences, best practices, and innovative approaches to electoral justice among the participating nations, the JSC said.

“We have extended invitations to 50 esteemed judges from various jurisdictions within the region. Their presence and active participation will contribute significantly to the success of this symposium.

“The Judicial Service Commission is committed to promoting the rule of law and upholding the independence of the judiciary.
By organizing this symposium, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of electoral justice principles and enhance the capacity of judges to adjudicate election-related disputes with fairness, impartiality, and expertise,” it said.

The Symposium follows the inaugural Africa Regional Electoral Justice Network conference in Johannesburg South Africa, held in 2019, and the follow up symposium held in 2022 in Malawi.

The Africa Electoral Justice Network (AEJN), to which Zimbabwe is a member, is a regional forum that brings together judges and individuals who adjudicate electoral disputes in courts, tribunals, and judicial election management bodies from across the African continent.

The AEJN on the other hand is a regional forum that brings together judges and individuals who adjudicate electoral disputes in courts and tribunals as well as judicial election management bodies from across the African continent.

New Ziana