Nsanje communities urged to resolve minor disputes locally

Paralegal Advisory Service Institute (Pasi) has urged communities in Nsanje District to resolve minor disputes at local level instead of taking them to courts.

The organisation’s national programmes coordinator Chimwemwe Ndalahoma said the law permits communities to resolve their disputes amicably.

He, therefore, said his organisation would introduce a community justice system called village mediation to resolve minor cases.

Ndalahoma: It will reduce congestion.

| Martin Gela Jnr

“As an organisation, we believe that diversion will reduce pressure on police in handling cases. This will also reduce congestion in police and prison cells, mainly for those on remand due to adjournments caused by resource constraints such as inadequate judicial officers,” said Ndalahoma.

Nsanje district second grade magistrate Haneef Wiski Ngundende said the court system allows misdemeanor cases with a maximum sentence of three years and below to be handled through diversion and the village mediation system committee.

In his remarks, Nsanje district social welfare assistant officer Patrick Kopolo said the system will help his office, which focuses on minors, to deter them from being sent to reformatory centres.

Group village head Nthole of Traditional Authority (T/A) Malemia in the district said the initiative will reduce pressure on police and courts.

The organisation is implementing a four-year project in the district dubbed Enhancement of Access to Justice for Vulnerable Men, Women and Children through Paralegal and Village Mediation Services with funding from the European Union through United Nations Children’s Fund.

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