“AI is no longer a passing trend, it is a critical tool for justice”

Rutendo Nyeve

Chief Justice Luke Malaba has called for the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in Zimbabwe’s justice system, saying the technology is now a critical tool for building an efficient and world-class judiciary.

Speaking at the End of First Term Judges’ Symposium in Victoria Falls on Sunday, Chief Justice Malaba said the judiciary can no longer afford to lag behind in embracing emerging technologies that are transforming global systems.

“The judiciary has been striving to develop an efficient and world-class justice system in this country. We have deliberately chosen this topic not because it is just a worldwide fashionable topic, but because we realise the time has come when we can no longer afford to watch others discuss and implement this very critical phenomenon in their transformative systems,” he said.

The symposium, held under the theme “The Application of Artificial Intelligence Technology in the Processes and Proceedings of the Judicial Service,” brings together judicial officers and international experts to explore the integration of AI into court processes.

Chief Justice Malaba said AI has the potential to improve people’s welfare, enhance productivity and drive innovation across sectors, including justice delivery.

However, he warned that the adoption of AI must be carefully managed to avoid risks such as algorithmic bias and inaccuracies associated with generative systems.

“Human judgment is always the element of justice that cannot be taken over by a machine,” he said.

He stressed that judicial independence and the protection of human rights must remain central as the judiciary modernises its operations.