06 Dec 2017

The Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi says there is no formal policy for the localisation of the Court of Appeal whose composition is determined under the Constitution of Botswana by the Judicial Service Commission.

Mr Kgathi said since the appointment of the first citizen President of the Court of Appeal in 2010, steps had been taken to progress the localisation of the court.

He noted that four additional citizen appointments had  been made and further explained that there were  four eminent retired justices from other jurisdictions: two from Scotland while the other two were from South Africa.

He further said that the process of localisation would  proceed as the present incumbents complete their terms of office or retire on account of advanced years as determined from time to time by the Judicial Service Commission.

The Member of Parliament for Francistown East, Mr Buti Billy had asked the minister if there was a policy to localise the Court of Appeal, and if so, what steps were being taken to implement it. ENDS