03 Feb 2016

Chief Justice Maruping Dibotelo says the country’s judiciary is vibrant and healthy with well-functioning courts.

Speaking at the official opening of the 2016 Legal Year on Tuesday February 2, Justice Dibotelo said last year, the High Court received a total of 8 164 civil cases, of which 6 707 were dealt with, representing a disposal rate of 82 per cent.

Chief Justice (CJ) Dibotelo said 1 338 criminal cases were recorded and 964 disposed of, representing 72 per cent disposal rate.

He said, “these disposal rates for the High Court amidst the resource challenges are very impressive by world standards of any effective and functioning judicial system in a democratic country.”

On training, Justice Dibotelo said they planne to establish an institute to provide continuous training and refresher courses for all judicial officers and support staff including on the job training. The institute will be houses at Lobatse High Court, he added.

The Chief Justice further noted that the judiciary was required and must be a strong, impartial, independent and accountable institution.

He noted that they were advocating for a deliberate, purposive and focused plan on the capacitation and resourcing of the judiciary, which had to be factored in the national development plans.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General, Dr Athaliah Molokomme, said the government remained steadfast in its commitment to an independent judiciary, and has always used its best endeavours to provide the Administration of Justice with the necessary funding.  

She agreed with the Chief Justice on the sub judice principle, and called upon the Law Society to play its role in ensuring that they upheld the basic standards of the legal profession.

For his part, the chairperson of the Law Society of Botswana Mr Lawrence Lecha stated that the society will remain steadfast in the endeavor to ensure that the public has trust in the legal profession by taking action against legal practitioners who contravene the work ethics of the legal profession. ENDS