03 Aug 2016

 Former Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP), Justice Elijah Legwaila, has been lauded for his immense contribution to the public service and judicial system.

Speaking at Justice Legwaila’s memorial service in Gaborone on Tuesday, various speakers took turns to laud Justice Legwaila’s exceptional impact in his service to the country.

Before the overflowing church pews with President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama and other dignitaries in attendance, Industrial Court judge president, Justice Goemekgabo Tebogo-Maruping extoled Justice Legwaila’s virtues.

“He was my predecessor as the Industrial Court judge president, and I knew upon my appointment that I would have to be filling very big boots as Justice Legwaila had served with distinction over a decade,” Justice Tebogo-Maruping said.

Having headed the civil service as PSP to second president, Sir Ketumile Masire and third president, Dr Festus Mogae, Justice Legwaila was appointed the Industrial Court judge president, serving until 2011, and was later appointed to the Court of Appeal.

Theologian, Mr Ishmael Noko, the former general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, which represents 72 million Christians in Lutheran churches located in 98 countries across the world, recalled an opportunity Justice Legwaila granted them to mediate in the Sedudu dispute of the 1990s.

“During the Sedudu Island dispute in the 1990s, he allowed the Christian fraternity to have an audience with, Sir Ketumile.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church is Namibia’s biggest Christian denomination and through Justice Legwaila’s support, we managed to get the council of churches in Namibia and Botswana to have audience with politicians from both sides, urging them to accept the outcome of the Hague mediation on the dispute,” Mr Noko said.

A personal friend of Justice Legwaila, Mr Noko recalled some of the personal moments they shared with friends from the Bobirwa Sub-district as well as the professional contribution to the country.

“Justice Legwaila was an expert in international law and he represented Botswana in many negotiations with other countries and international institutions,” he said.

Ms Kgopodiso Mokama, the widow of the late chief justice, Justice Moleleki Mokama, said Justice Legwaila was an outstanding church mate who contributed to Trinity Church activities since the 1970s.

Trinity minister in charge, Rev Mompati Aaron presided over the memorial service, along with other clerics including Anglican Diocese of Botswana, Bishop Metlhayotlhe Beleme, UCCSA Botswana Synod secretary, Rev Keleneilwe Kgerethwa and UCCSA music director, Rev Dumi Mmualefhe.

Justice Legwaila will be laid to rest in Mathathane on Saturday. ENDS