Labour unions are demanding answers from President Mokgweetsi Masisi over the troubles besieging the judiciary in Botswana.
Speaking at the just ended Manual Workers conference, veteran unionist Johnson Motshwarakgole said it appears all is not well in the judiciary.
“We wonder if there is a crisis in the judiciary or whether these are troubles which could be traced to the Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) failing in carrying out its duties,” said Motshwarakgole.
The JSC’s responsibility is the assessment and recommendation of officers to be appointed for Judicial posts and their discipline.
The appointing authority is the President.
Motshwarakgole also wondered if the problem bedeviling the judiciary has to do with supervision of judges. He called on Masisi to address the issue as a matter of urgency. He said majority of the judges were Batswana and therefore it shouldn’t be much of a problem to address the issue. The veteran unionist also called on Masisi take corrective measures in respect of the crisis beveling the judiciary.
BOSEUTU President Winston Radikolo also shared Motshwarakgole’s sentiments saying Masisi should address the current state of the judiciary saying a resolution of the crisis is necessary to bring about harmony in the administration of justice in the country. He added that the matter requires urgent attention in order to restore public confidence in the country’s judicial institutions.
Last month, Justice Gaolapelwe Ketlogetswe claimed that Chief Justice Terrence Rannowane and the Minister of State, Kabo Morwaeng allegedly tried to influence him to rule against Lobatse legislator, Thapelo Matsheka in a case in which he sought freedom from prolonged detention.
Hardly had the ink dried when another judge, Justice Tshepho Motswagole also wrote to the Attorney General informing of his intention to drag the State to Court over what he deemed as bias/lack of promotions/career progression.
Another judge, Gabriel Komboni has also launched an application before the High Court challenging Rannowane’s decision/intention to transfer him from Gaborone to Francistown.
