26 Feb 2015

Members of Parliament have urged the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security to give Attorney Generals Chambers (AGs) adequate resources so that it functions effectively.

The request was made by several MPs as they debated the AGs budget for the 2015/16 financial year, which was proposed by Defence, Justice and Security minister Mr Shaw Kgathi on Tuesday, February 24. The budget, comprising P178.7 million recurrent estimates and P33.3 million development estimates was approved by Parliament on Wednesday, February 25.

Palapye MP Mr Moiseraela Goya said the office of Attorney General plays an important role of harmonising the functions of government and those of Parliament, therefore must be well resourced to be able to attract the best legal brains. He said the office must be given enough human resources, finance and transport. 

He cautioned that if the AGs remains under-resourced and fails to perform well, it will compromise the effectiveness of government and Parliament. Mr Goya also suggested for Parliament to be provided with its own law drafter who can assist MPs with drafting of Bills. 

He said the presence of a law drafter, fully stationed in Parliament, would improve the effectiveness of law-making role played by the House.  Mochudi West MP Mr Gilbert Mangole, who also requested for adequate resourcing of AGs, warned politicians to stop interfering on the role of the Attorney General. 

He accused the ruling Botswana Democratic Party of dragging the office of Attorney General into political fights last year by making it lodge a court case against Parliament. 

“There is no how the Attorney General can question Parliament Standing Orders.  The office of Attorney General should be respected and allowed to work without undue political pressure. Otherwise it will lose its ethics,” Mr Mangole said.

He alleged that some resignations that happened at the AGs in previous years were as a result of frustration by employees for having their role interfered with.

However, minister Kgathi criticised MPs who accused ruling party politicians of interfering on duties of office of the Attorney General, saying they must stop bringing irresponsible allegations to Parliament.

Mahalapye East MP Ms Botlogile Tshireletso, on the other hand praised the AGs for doing a sterling job of ensuring that Batswana access equal justice. She asked AGs to roll out a Legal Aid mobile to Mahalapye. 

She also asked the minister to find out why employees leave the AGs to start their own law firms, saying this loss of skilled human resource by government must be arrested. “If it is because of low remuneration then the issue must be dealt with,” she said.

Gabane-Mmankgodi MP Mr Pius Mokgware said the AGs should be given more independence, which will result in removal of political interference. 

He also called for increase of salaries, and improvement of security of employees of AGs.

Minister Kgathi pointed out that his ministry was carrying out a holistic approach to issue of remuneration in the legal service.  ENDS