Mosele courts NGOs for legal services

Mpho Mokwape | Tuesday September 22, 2015 14:34

The beneficiaries, Childline Botswana, Kagisano Society Women’s Shelter (KSWS) and the Youth Health Organisation (YOHO) would enjoy free legal advice from Mosele legal team as and when they need it.

The legal advice would be on a one-year renewable period and the help would also be extended to the employees of the three organisations on matters not related to work commitments. Speaking at the signing ceremony on Friday, Director for Mosele Legal Services, Base Sebonego, said it was a pilot project that they hope would be spread to other organisations once it is in full swing.

“Today we only chose three organisations because it is a pilot project and once we see how beneficial it is to the organisations, it would be spread across to others in need of legal services,” he noted.

Sebonego explained that the project was started after the realisation that organisations especially non-profit ones often go through struggles that sometimes needed legal advice.

He said the organisations are therefore forced to dig into their own pockets despite already being financially decapitated.

“This is our chance as a stakeholder to help these organisations that are working so hard to make a difference in other people’s life especially children and teenagers,” he said.

Sebonego said the legal advice would also be extended to the employees who on many occasions are volunteers with limited resources for their own personal legal battles.

He however pointed out that the legal advice would not be extended to court representations but will end every time the matter goes to court.

Deputy chairperson of the Botswana Council of Non Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO), Olebile Machete, said organisations are working under limited resources and others end up shutting down due to lack of funds or necessary help.

He noted that it was high time stakeholders step up and shares the responsibilities of building a better nation.

“These organisations do not make any profit and they need all kinds of help from industry players to continue operating,” he said.

Childline Psycho Social Support Coordinator, Onkemetse Montsheki, said the gesture would go a long way in helping them avoid lawsuits and other problems.

She said as Childline Botswana they always deal with children issues that sometimes need legal advice to avoid such things as signing papers that may put one in danger of being sued.

“We have been through a lot and sometimes we are forced to fork out money for legal services that sometimes involve just an advice and we are happy now that we will be receiving such help for free,” she noted.