THE BIG SNUB

The Law Society of Botswana held an independent session separate from the annual Opening of the Legal Year, which took place at the High Court of Botswana this past Tuesday. The event, themed ‘The Struggle for a Just, Efficient, and Independent Judiciary,’ took place in Gaborone, with members also participating via Zoom from across the nation.

Osego Garebamono, Chairperson of the Law Society of Botswana, expressed satisfaction that lawyers chose to mark the opening of the legal year with them rather than attending the High

Court ceremony. He described the occasion as historic and emphasised the challenge in making this choice.

Garebamono highlighted the genesis of their message, dating back to discussions with the Administration of Justice several years ago, aiming to establish a trustworthy, fair, and efficient judiciary. He lamented the lack of implementation of agreed-upon action plans, with promises remaining unfulfilled, contrary to agreements.

The event, according to Garebamono, underscores the Law Society’s dedication to protecting the rule of law, reflecting the efforts of its members. He stressed the current low point in the judiciary’s wellbeing, urging all lawyers to uphold the integrity and honour of courtrooms, particularly directing his message to young lawyers.

Doreen Khama, founder of Doreen Khama Attorneys, expressed disbelief at the notion of judges being bribed to rule in favour of litigants, deeming such allegations disgraceful and necessitating immediate action. She voiced concerns about the judiciary issues, which she said were alarming and detrimental to the nation’s success.

Khama noted the failure to hold quarterly meetings between the Law Society and the judiciary as previously agreed upon. She reiterated the Society’s lamentation over the current state of the judiciary, citing numerous unaddressed incidents in 2023 that tarnished its reputation.