13 Mar 2018

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has appealed to judicial officers not to allow outside influence to motivate their judgments.

“The nation expects judicial officers to settle their disputes expeditiously and within reasonable time in a manner that reflects fairness, based only on the facts and evidence presented before them and not to allow personal likes or dislikes, agendas or outside influence to motivate their judgements,” he added.

Officially opening the over P75-million extension of Broadhurst  Magistrate’s Court yesterday, President Khama said judicial officers should always be conscious that they owe the nation a duty to do all within their powers and ingenuity to give the country a good quality judicial system.

He said the judiciary, like the other arms of the state, played a pivotal role in the governance of Botswana.

 “As you may be aware, the judiciary’s over-arching goal is to develop, maintain, and sustain an efficient as well as an effective judicial system that dispenses justice fairly, impartially and expeditiously,” he said.

President Khama explained that the discharge of this function was anchored on the rule of law, which was the pedestal of Vision 2036.
He said his government and that of his predecessors invested and would continue to invest resources in the Administration of Justice in the form of infrastructure such as buildings, staff houses, vehicles, equipment, courtrooms and other perquisites of court officials.

He also said for the judiciary to cope with the increase in litigation and criminal cases, there must be a corresponding increase in both infrastructural development and human resources.

He said before the construction of the court, there had been a tremendous increase in the number of cases registered before it, which made it difficult for the old structure to cope, adding that the court did not only deal with cases emanating from Gaborone, but also from surrounding areas.

On other issues, President Khama applauded Chief Justice, Mr Maruping Dibotelo for his visionary leadership, adding that it was during his reign that the judiciary introduced a number of reforms all geared towards  achieving a just, efficient and speedy dispensation of justice.

He said currently, the judiciary is on the verge of introducing e-filing, court annexed mediation (at the High Court and magistrate courts), and real time reporting all designed towards enhancing and improving service in a quest to ‘achieve a world class judiciary’.

He also commended Botswana Police Service Commissioner of Police for its collective efforts in fighting and reducing crime in this country and attaining the position of the best police service in Africa.

In this regard, President Khama took the opportunity to announce that on March 26, he would bestow the Commissioner of Police, Mr Keabetswe Makgophe, with the Presidential Order of Honour during a police parade to be held on his honour.

In his welcome remarks, Justice Dibotelo said the extension of the Broadhurst Magistrate’s Court had greatly alleviated the problem of shortage of office space and courtrooms.

The Chief Justice commended government for the weighty investment in public infrastructure and facilities for the betterment and wellbeing of its people.
“To us the judiciary, this is an affirmation of one of our strategic objectives of enhancing physical access to justice, hence the official opening of the extension of the Broadhurst Magistrate’s Courts attests the growth as an organisation and reinforces the Administration of Justice’s responsiveness and the needs of its customers, stakeholders and employees.

He thanked President Khama for showing keen interest and sensitivity in addressing the judiciary’s financial needs.

President Khama was later taken on a tour of the building accompanied by Justice Dibotelo, Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi, judges of the High Court, magisterial bench and senior government officials.

The Broadhurst Magistrate’s Court has been extended from four courtrooms to 10 spacious modern courtrooms, 10 magistrates chambers, court reporters’ offices, common room for bench clerks, bench clerks’ offices, three registries, a conference room, juvenile court, three holding cells, an attorney room, a library,  four witness’ rooms, sufficient ablution facilities, and a gymnasium.Ends