07 Mar 2019

GABORONE - Parliament has been informed that there is only one officer who recently reached the compulsory retirement age of sixty in January 2016 in the Administration of Justice.

Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Nonofo Molefhi said this when answering a question on behalf of the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security.

Mr Molefhi said there was succession plan for the post of Registrar and Master of the High Court. “Currently there are six deputy registrar and master positions immediately below that of registrar and master. Out of these, four are based in Gaborone and head specialised divisions of legal, judicial, corporate services and masters office,” he said.

Furthermore, Mr Molefhi explained that the remaining two were responsible for overseeing Lobatse and Francistown High Court divisions respectively.

In addition, Mr Molefhi said the current Registrar and Master was recently appointed on a 24-month contract through the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, exercising its discretionary powers conferred on it by the Constitution.

The approve Job Effectiveness Description (JED) for the post of Registrar and Master of the High Court spells out the requirements for the job as Bachelor of Laws or its equivalent plus 14 years post qualification experience; two of which should have been served at Regional Magistrate level (F2) salary scale or its equivalent.

Gaborone Central legislator, Dr Phenyo Butale had asked the minister if there were any positions occupied by officers who had reached the compulsory retirement age of sixty in the Administration of Justice, excluding judges.

Dr Butale also wanted to know the number of such officers and position they were occupying, if there was any succession planning and what special skills they possess which made it difficult to replace them. Ends