Report reveals flaws in 2026 Legal Year address

This week marked the commencement of the 2026 legal year under the theme “Court as a Public Service.” Chief Justice Gaolapelwe Ketlogetswe, the judiciary’s foremost authority, delivered an address reflecting on the state of Botswana’s judiciary, evaluating court performance, and outlining strategic priorities for the coming year. The report, however, exposes a stark discrepancy with the narrative presented by Chief Justice Ketlogetswe. While the speech conveyed an optimistic view of judicial staffing, the committee’s detailed data paints a different picture.

Specifically, the statistics cited by the Chief Justice in paragraph 9.4.2 of his address are directly contradicted by figures found on pages 64 to 67 of the Annual Report. In his speech, the Chief Justice recounted the judiciary’s inaugural judicial conference held from July 30 to August 1, 2025, in Palapye. The conference was designed as a forum for deep engagement with key AoJ stakeholders and to formulate resolutions guiding collaborative efforts across the justice sector.

Among these resolutions was a commitment to filling vacant positions within the AoJ to enhance service delivery. The Law Society of Botswana (LSB) has voiced sharp criticism of the judicial appointment process. Chairman Lesedi Moahi characterized the current system as opaque, unfair, and marked by executive overreach.

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Moahi pressed for clear regulations governing the appointment of judicial and quasi-judicial officers. “While we await response to our demand, the Society is actively considering, among other steps, withdrawing its nominated member from the Judicial Service Commission until this issue is resolved satisfactorily.”

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