No kid gloves for gov�t in litigation
Mpho Mokwape | Friday February 9, 2018 12:27
Keetshabe in his first address of delegates at the opening of the legal year this week said government was not accorded any special rights rather it was brutally equal to all other litigating parties.
“The government has the same duties and obligations as all other litigating parties and this include compliance with court decisions,” he said. He explained that the equality in litigation meant that enforcement of court decisions without hesitation.
In his capacity as the AG, Keetshabe assured that he will continue the need for government, without any degree of hesitation, to advocate strongly for the promotion and respect of the rule of law.
In this regard the government will continue to support the independence of the judiciary more so that the strength of democracy lied in the government of the country being an ordinary litigating party.
“Without exception we shall continue to abide by and implement decisions of the judiciary at all levels. It is only through compliance with court decisions that democracy and the rule of law can continue to flourish,” Keetshabe said.
On the relationship between the AG and the Law Society of Botswana (LSB), Keetshabe noted they have opened a fruitful dialogue to address issues and concerns.
He explained that among the preliminary discussions was the regulation of legal practice so as to address the challenge of young lawyers fresh out of pupilage who straightaway open law firms.
In this regard, “The LSB has statutory duty of actively enforcing compliance with ethics, procedures, rules and regulations of the legal profession to avoid such”.
Keetshabe said weeding out non-compliant lawyers should be a priority as it can cause extended trauma and paralysis to innocent members of the public therefore the LSB needs all the support even from the AG’s chambers.
“We have to collectively protect innocent members of society from marauding lawyers who often masquerade as messiahs,” Keetshabe said.