First Specialised Commercial Court Launched To Tackle Backlogs

Botswana launches its first specialised Commercial Court to fast-track business disputes, corruption cases and complex divorce settlements while reducing court backlogs. Botswana has officially launched its first specialised Commercial Court in a landmark move aimed at accelerating the resolution of business disputes, economic crime cases and financially complex divorce matters that have long clogged the country’s justice system. The new court is expected to play a critical role in reducing a growing backlog of cases currently weighing heavily on the High Court.

Existing records indicate that more than 5,000 commercial matters and more than 2,000 divorce cases are pending before the Gaborone and Lobatse High Court divisions. The court will focus on commercial litigation, public tender disputes, corruption matters and economic crimes, areas increasingly viewed as central to investor confidence and economic governance. In addition, the court is expected to transform the handling of divorce cases where disagreements over businesses, maintenance payments, property division and asset ownership frequently drag on for years before reaching finality.

Speaking at the launch of the specialised court, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Nelson Ramaotwana, said the move could strengthen Botswana’s reputation as a rules-based economy by ensuring disputes are resolved faster and more predictably. For businesses, families and investors alike, the launch of the Commercial Court is being seen as a long-overdue reform that could modernise justice delivery and restore confidence in the speed of Botswana’s courts.