National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust has drilled volunteers from Balaka District in primary justice.

Speaking on Tuesday in Balaka during the orientation of 20 volunteers, Balaka Nice Trust civic education officer Henry Zekaria said some human rights abuses and cases can be resolved amicably at community level.

“Not every case should be brought to police as they can be dealt with by traditional leaders and volunteers as part of primary justice,” he said.

Zekaria said the orientation focused on signposting and referral systems which enable volunteers to know cases that can be referred to police or traditional leaders.

“The orientation also showed them remedies available for different human rights abuses at the local level,” he said.

Rivirivi Nice Trust para civic education officer Moreen Andaki said she learned what primary justice is and how it can help resolve wrangles at village level.

“We will strive to implement what we have learned to promote primary justice,” she said.

Balaka community policing coordinator Robert Njalam’mano said people should know the difference between civil and criminal cases to help reduce congestion in police custodies.

“Not only does primary justice help reduce congestion in police cells, but also reduces costs involved in prosecuting civil cases,” he said.

Nice Trust is implementing the Access to Justice Programme with funding from the European Union.  

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