Several solutions to resolve the problem of insufficient magistrates in the Lubero territory in North Kivu were mentioned by Franck Tshimanga, prosecutor at the Lubero peace court. This situation has an impact on the administration of justice and poses significant challenges for the local population.
The first constraint highlighted by the magistrate is the lack of magistrates in the region. Currently, he is the only magistrate in office in the territory, which makes it difficult to cover the different municipalities and cities. To remedy this situation, he proposes the assignment of new magistrates to the region and the training of judicial police officers (OPJ) so that they can represent the prosecutor.
In addition to the lack of magistrates, the security situation in the Lubero territory is an additional challenge. However, the magistrate notes that thanks to the efforts made by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the national police, the security situation is gradually improving.
To guarantee effective administration of justice, the prosecutor insists on the importance of speed in the processing of legal files. He emphasizes that the processing of files must be carried out within a reasonable time frame so as not to leave cases pending for an incomprehensible length of time. This will help meet the expectations of the population of Lubero.
It is important to remember that the lack of magistrates is a recurring problem in many provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Difficult socio-professional conditions in the provinces often push magistrates to prefer to stay in Kinshasa. The government has already announced measures to remedy this situation, including the development of a new map of Congolese magistrates, but the results are slow to materialize.
In conclusion, the shortage of magistrates in the Lubero territory poses significant challenges for the administration of justice. In order to resolve this problem, it is essential to assign new magistrates to the region, train judicial police officers and guarantee speed in the processing of judicial files. These measures will help to improve the situation and meet the expectations of the population of Lubero.