Leburu breaks ranks, apologises to Dibotelo
Oarabile Mosikare | Wednesday January 20, 2016 18:00
Justices Kholisani Solo, Barnabas Nyamadzabo and Bengbame Sechele all apologised to Dibotelo and distanced themselves from a 12-judge petition written to the Judicial Service Commission asking for impeachment proceedings against the Chief Justice (CJ).
The petitioners accused Dibotelo of being hell bent on destroying some judges’ careers, after the CJ roped in police against four judges – now suspended – over a housing allowance row.
Yesterday, impeccable sources said Leburu had broken ranks with the remaining petitioners and offered Dibotelo an olive branch.
Leburu is said to have told Dibotelo that he was very sorry that he had caused the CJ “misery and humiliation” by co-signing the petition that spoke ill of the CJ. In an answering affidavit filed in December, Dibotelo also disclosed that Leburu had apologised to him verbally.
The judicial blow-up was triggered after Dibotelo reported Justices Key Dingake, Modiri Letsididi, Mercy Garekwe and Ranier Busang to the police for investigation after it was discovered that they had received allowances not due to them. The housing allowances in question amounted close to P1 million and Dibotelo said this constituted an act of theft by the concerned judges.
The four judges quickly received support from their colleagues resulting in the 12-man petition, calling for the CJ’s impeachment.
President Ian Khama subsequently suspended the judges, citing ill-discipline in their petition to Dibotelo.
Other judges who had initially signed the petition, quickly removed themselves, offering apologies to Dibotelo.
Justice Kholisani Solo wrote: “I fully realise the embarrassment caused to the Chief Justice and the appointing authority and apologise unapologetically about it. I express my loyalty to the Chief Justice and appointing authority who stood for my appointment when I was in my moment of despair.”
His colleague Justice Barnabas Nyamadzabo wrote: “When I attended the Mahalapye meeting leading up to the signing of the petition my sole intention was to hear out and seek to understand from our four colleagues the challenges they faced. As things turned out I was soon caught up in group-think which often results in poor quality decision making.”
Another judge, Justice Bengbame Sechele wrote: “Upon reflecting further on the petition I resolved to unreservedly retract my association with the petition. “I further take this opportunity to unreservedly apologise to you for the contents thereof.”
Khama has since appointed a tribunal to inquire into the four suspended judges’ conduct and decide their future.