THE Southern African Chief Justices Forum (SACJF) has resolved that judges of the member countries should speak with one voice and resist pressure from politicians.

SACJF acting chairperson Chief Justice Ernest Sakala said judiciaries should continue to resist any moves that may be aimed at interfering with the decisions of the courts and share knowledge and resources on computerisation for the benefit of citizens in member countries.

He said the conference also resolved that member countries should encourage the establishment of public relations offices, which should react to the media and defend or give the correct position of the judiciary.

The chief justice said this in South Africa at the just ended two-day conference under the theme 'Sustaining the Independence of the Judiciary' where 14 African countries participated.

These were Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zanzibar and Zimbabwe.

The chief justice urged the non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the civil society and the citizens of member countries to be sensitisd on the need to accept the independence of the judiciary.

"That the best practices of the commercial courts should be extended to the other divisions of the courts for the benefit of the whole judiciary and for the benefit of all the citizens," Mr Justice Sakala said.

He said the introduction of the information technology in courts systems would improve the efficiency, reduce backlog and costs of running judiciaries.

The forum were meant to promote an opportunity for judges to consult, exchange views on various contemporary issues affecting member countries and the chief justice called for close cooperation to enhance the efficiency of the respective judiciaries.