Eight shortlisted for Judge positions
Oarabile Mosikare | Friday May 18, 2018 15:55
Most of the shortlisted candidates are government lawyers employed at the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. These are Kabo Leinaeng, Susan Mangori and Kentse Molome.
There is also the southern Regional Magistrate, Chris Gabanagae, former Registrar of the High Court and now University of Botswana legal advisor, Tshegofatso Mogomotsi, private attorneys Gabriel Komboni and Oteng Motlhala. Also making it into the list is former acting Judge, Jennifer Dube.
The JSC earlier this year rejected the appointment of Dube as a High Court Judge after discussing and considering the results of the round robin. Dube was acting Judge until December 31, 2017. Before being appointed acting Judge in September 2015, she worked for Botswana Development Corporation (BDC).
Early in his presidency, former president Ian Khama disregarded the JSC recommendation to appoint Komboni and attorney Lizo Ngcongco to the bench. But last year, Khama extended an invitation to the two attorneys to indicate whether they would be willing to be High Court Judges.
Observers thought Komboni would not apply since he was offered the position by the appointing authority. Others differed. “Khama does not give posts. The JSC creates posts and candidates apply. Khama was doing a popularity stunt and the JSC did not have a post by then and it was functus officio [of no further official authority or legal effect].
Komboni applied and was shortlisted by the JSC. He will be interviewed with others,” one legal eagle explained.