The real test is in the doing, not the saying

Mmegi Editor | Monday April 27, 2026 06:00

“Injustice anywhere is a threat

to justice everywhere.”

— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

We listened, and we want very much to believe him, but our belief will not be secured by fine speeches; it will be secured only by action.

For far too long, there has been a suspicion amongst ordinary Batswana that the law has two faces; one for the ordinary man and woman struggling to make ends meet, and another, gentler face for the well-connected and the powerful. We have seen cases involving prominent figures drag on for years, only to disappear quietly into the administrative undergrowth, leaving nothing behind but a cloud of unanswered questions and a lingering distrust in our institutions.

Ngakaagae has now drawn a clear line in the sand. He has told the nation, in no uncertain terms, that this era is over. We are grateful for the clarity, but we must also hold his feet to the fire.

The responsibility, however, does not rest solely on the DPP. If this new resolve is to mean anything, the rest of us must play our part. A healthy justice system requires a vigilant public.

We must watch the process and ask the difficult questions when cases stall. We must reject the culture of rumour and speculation that Ngakaagae rightly criticised, and instead focus on the cold, hard facts of the evidence.

Furthermore, other authorities must step up to the plate. The police, the DCEC, and other investigative bodies must provide the DPP with rigorous, watertight dockets without holes or delay.

The Judiciary must ensure that courts are not used as a playground for endless postponements and legal gymnastics.

And the government itself must ensure that the 17 new prosecutorial posts mentioned are filled not just with bodies, but with men and women of courage and competence. Giving the DPP offices resources is pointless if the political will behind the scenes is weak.

Ngakaagae has taken a bold public stand. He has said his office will be accountable and open to scrutiny. We intend to hold him to that as the media. We call on him to demonstrate that the era of “fear or favour” is genuinely buried. Let us see progress on those long-stalled cases that carry familiar names.

If Ngakaagae fails to deliver, the disappointment will not just be his. It will be a wound to the soul of this nation. But if he succeeds, he will have given Botswana something far more valuable than a conviction. He will have earned our trust back.