A high-profile Commonwealth Secretariat Symposium For Judges on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence in Malawi was officially opened in Mangochi on Monday, 6th November 2023.
Speaking when he officially opened the symposium, Chief Justice of the Republic of Malawi Hon. Rizine Mzikamanda, said technology helps society achieve a lot in the shortest time possible and, therefore, helps to accelerate development in every aspect of human endeavor.
“We believe that technology would help us improve our operations in the delivery of justice and judicial services,” said the Chief Justice, adding: “This is why we have firmly resolved to become innovative and embrace technology on our journey to transform the way our Judiciary conducts business. We are working frantically as we search for the financial investment in digitalizing the services we provide in the Judiciary.
“We are aware that technological advancement has brought along challenges the world over. The rapid advancement in technology and digitalization has caused a widening of digital skills gap.”
However, the Chief Justice pointed out file sharing and hacking, as well as lack of digital knowledge between generations, as some of the challenges that exist in the digital age.
He said that the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data and matters of cybersecurity are reshaping the way we do business.
In her remarks, the British High Commissioner to Malawi, Her Excellency Fiona Ritchie: pledged her country’s support, saying, “UK and Malawi share a lot in common. I pledge continued support to Malawi in general, and the Malawi Judiciary in particular.”
The Chairperson of the Judicial Training Committee, Hon. Justice Annabel Mtalimanja indicated that: “the Symposium has been organized to create a platform for the exchange of views on the challenges commonly encountered by judicial officers when adjudicating over cybercrime cases and those involving electronic evidence.”
The symposium has attracted over 50 judges and has been organized by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Malawi Judiciary Training Committee.