Windhoek-based lawyer Kadhila Amoomo is calling on the Minister of Justice and Labour Relations to introduce plea bargaining as a way to reduce delays in Namibia’s criminal justice system.

Amoomo explained that plea bargaining allows an accused person to plead guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence or dropped charges, under agreed conditions.

He pointed to lengthy court cases, such as the Caprivi Treason Trial which lasted over 25 years, as evidence of the urgent need for reform.

"You must remember that in the previous administration, the former justice minister tabled a bill in parliament but it fell on deaf ears. It was withdrawn and reasons are not so clear. We are asking the current minister to reintroduce the bill, as it has benefits for not only the accused person but also benefits the victims and saves government money," Amoomo said.

Plea bargaining is a common practice in many countries to reduce court backlogs and speed up the delivery of justice.

Amoomo believes that bringing it to Namibia could help restore public confidence in the justice system and uphold the constitutional right to a fair trial.

While it is unclear if the ministry will act on the suggestion, it has recently invited the public to propose ideas for legislative reform.