EDITORIAL: When justice loses its judges

The real danger in the pay dispute between government and magistrates is not what it will cost to settle, but what Namibia stands to lose if it remains unresolved.

An underpaid judiciary is a weakened judiciary. Experienced magistrates may leave, capable lawyers may find little reason to join the bench, and those who remain could face heavier workloads in courts already struggling to dispense justice promptly.

Ordinary Namibians will bear the consequences. Criminal cases could drag on, accused people could spend longer awaiting trial, victims could wait years for closure, and families seeking maintenance or protection could find themselves trapped in a system unable to respond.

Businesses also depend on courts capable of resolving disputes without unreasonable delays. When justice becomes painfully slow, confidence in the legal system suffers, and the consequences extend well beyond the courtroom.

The argument over allowances and who determines them must therefore be viewed against these wider risks. Government may be counting the cost of meeting judicial officers' demands, but it must also count the cost of losing experienced people and allowing court delays to worsen. A country cannot afford a justice system that gradually loses the capacity to deliver justice.