The legal effectiveness of community court decisions in the mozambican justice system
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70622/2238-7110.2026.744Keywords:
community courts, legal effectiveness, access to justice, legal pluralism, mozambican justice systemAbstract
This study examines the legal effectiveness of community court decisions within the Mozambican justice system, focusing on their role in promoting access to justice and resolving local disputes. It seeks to assess the extent to which these decisions produce legal and social effects while identifying the institutional and legal challenges affecting their performance within the framework of legal pluralism recognized by the Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique. A qualitative approach was adopted through a review of legislation, documentary sources, and national and international scientific literature, complemented by semi-structured interviews. The study involved 150 purposively selected participants, including community court judges, judicial magistrates, public prosecutors, lawyers, community leaders, legal scholars, and citizens who had used community courts. The findings indicate that community courts play an important role in mediation and the prompt resolution of low-complexity disputes, thereby strengthening social cohesion and improving access to justice. However, their effectiveness is constrained by the limited legal enforceability of their decisions, insufficient institutional resources, and weak coordination with the formal judicial system. The study concludes that strengthening the legal framework, providing continuous training for community court judges, and enhancing institutional cooperation between community and formal justice are essential to improving the legal effectiveness of community courts in Mozambique.
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