Governance made easy: Tanzania experience in electronic court case management system at Tanzania’s High Court

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the experience in Tanzania of the use and implementation of electronic technologies for the management of court cases by the Tanzanian judiciary, drawing insights from the Tanzanian High Court. The study examines the political and legal framework for the application of electronic court proceedings in Tanzania; the degree of application of the e-court system for the judiciary and all its actors; and the challenges in the application of the e-court management system in the judicial service. Technological Acceptance Theory guided this study.  A descriptive research design was used with 30 respondents who were employees of the Supreme Court of Tanzania. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were used: purposive sampling identified respondents with relevant knowledge of electronic case management, while convenience sampling considered availability and willingness to participate.  The study relied more on qualitative data collected through interviews and documentary reviews. Quantitative data analysis was done using SPSS while content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. The study found that the National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Policy and ICT Roadmap for the Judiciary, the 2019 Tanzania Legal Information Institute (TANZLII) Policy, and the 2020 National Information and Communication Technology Broadband Backbone and Fiber Cable Optic, other policies and legal framework guiding the use of electronic court case management systems in Tanzania. The Tanzanian Court has upgraded the e-case management system for the judiciary and all its stakeholders through the introduction of national information and communication technologies such as Broadband Backbone and Fiber Cable Optic. It has also improved the infrastructure for the delivery of judicial services, the strengthening of the Judicial Ethics Committees, and the building of courts. The study recommends that all judicial areas in Tanzania be connected by a wide area network to access information anytime, anywhere. However, the use of ECM has enhanced court operations, encouraging access to justice, increasing openness in court operations, improving the security of court data, reducing file loss, and reducing case backlog.