Malawi Judiciary Among Africa's Top Performers in Access to Justice

Malawi Judiciary Among Africa's Top Performers in Access to Justice

The Malawi Judiciary has been ranked among Africa's top-performing judicial institutions in public confidence and access to justice, according to the latest Afrobarometer survey conducted across 38 African countries.

The survey found that 67 percent of Malawians are confident that they can obtain justice through the courts, placing Malawi third on the continent and well above the African average of 50 percent.

Malawi also recorded strong levels of public trust in the courts, with 63 percent of respondents expressing confidence in judicial institutions compared to the continental average of 44 percent. Additionally, 56 percent of Malawians believe judges and magistrates make decisions based on the law rather than external influence.

The findings further show that 65 percent of Malawians believe they can access legal advice or support when needed, reflecting progress in efforts to improve access to justice and legal services.

Commenting on the findings, Chief Registrar for the Judiciary, His Honour Innocent Nebi said the results reflect the Judiciary's continued efforts to improve service delivery and strengthen public confidence in the administration of justice.

The findings are encouraging and affirm the reforms that the Judiciary has been implementing over the years to improve efficiency, transparency and access to justice. Through strengthened case management systems, digitalisation initiatives, publication of judgments and enhanced public engagement, we have remained focused on ensuring that justice is delivered effectively and openly.

His Honour Nebi noted that while the findings demonstrate significant progress, the Judiciary remains committed to addressing existing challenges and further improving access to justice for all Malawians.

We recognise that there is still work to be done, particularly in ensuring that justice remains accessible and affordable to all. The Judiciary will continue implementing measures aimed at reducing delays, enhancing service delivery and upholding the highest standards of fairness, integrity and judicial independence.

Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan research network that conducts public attitude surveys on democracy, governance, the economy, and society.