Justice delayed is trust denied

The Monitor Editor | Wednesday April 29, 2026 06:00

Batswana who marched peacefully for 'Justice for Tshepi' demanded answers. They have now received a detailed account of police investigation and a promise that the file is with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The real test is whether the state now keeps its word without further prodding. In his address, the minister asked the nation to trust the process. He spoke of rigour, not neglect, and pointed to 10 months of investigation as proof that every detail was examined because a child’s dignity must be preserved.

Those words carry weight. Yet words alone will not console a grieving family. They will not quell the anger of a community that feels the system failed a Standard 7 pupil. And words will be worthless if this tragedy does not mark a turning point.

The petition should never have been necessary. A child died in May 2025, and it took a public outcry to pry a formal response from the authorities.

Batswana should not have to march through the streets and present petitions simply to be heard. An accountable government must communicate proactively, not only when cornered. The State must now show that it can deliver justice without a chorus of demands from ordinary people.

Minister Mohwasa outlined systemic reforms that sound promising: stronger investigative protocols for minors, expanded sexual offences units, a multi-sectoral framework against gender-based violence, and a new Independent Police Complaints Commission drawn from the Umbrella for Democratic Change manifesto. These commitments are good, but they must not gather dust.

The public is weary of grand announcements that fade once the headlines do. Every pledge must be costed, timetabled, and reported on regularly. The citizens who carried placards for Tshepi deserve to see those reforms become real.

Most urgently, the DPP has promised to finish evaluating the evidence by May 15, 2026. That deadline must be met without excuses. If charges are warranted, they must follow swiftly. The nation must see that even the most complicated case does not mean endless delay.

Government must make itself so diligent, so transparent, and so responsive that citizens never again feel the need to stand outside Parliament holding handwritten signs simply to be taken seriously. The best tribute to Tshepi is a system that works for every child, every time, without being forced.