Dibotelo replaces Nganunu

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Wednesday February 3, 2010 00:00

 

He has been acting Chief Justice since last November after Nganunu was taken ill and subsequently hospitalised in South Africa for over a month. Accepting the appointment, Dibotelo commended his predecessor for working tirelessly for the judiciary.

'Under his reign, he initiated historic judicial reforms, including Judicial Case Management, that will enable our judiciary to deliver quality service expeditiously. He will also be remembered for upholding the independence of the judiciary in Botswana,' he said.

Dibotelo is the third Motswana CJ after the late Moleleki Mokama, who preceded Nganunu.

Welcoming Dibotelo's appointment, Chairman of the Law Society of Botswana (LSB), Tebogo Sebego said he was delighted at the move saying, 'he deserves it'. He said Dibotelo worked hard to bring programmes to turn around the judiciary. He was confident that his appointment would bring more positive changes to the judiciary. There is no position of deputy Chief Justice as the appointments are made according to seniority.

The most senior judge is Justice Isaac Lesetedi after Dibotelo.

Attorney Parks Tafa described Dibotelo as a 'very competent and experienced man with integrity' that is beyond reproach. He commended Dibotelo's struggle to make sure that poor litigants, who could not afford attorneys, were equally afforded justice. 'He has been working hard to ensure that justice is accessible to all. Ke mogolo, ke Motswana and he is a very humble person,' he said. He is confident that under Dibotelo's guidance the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary will be maintained in Botswana.

Also commenting on the appointment, advocate Sidney Pilane said; 'the elevation of Justice Dibotelo to the offic e of Chief Justice is eminently and is timely. I do not doubt that I speak for the profession when I say that his is a popular choice amongst lawyers'.

Political parties were also not surprised at the appointment. Botswana Congress Party (BCP) spokesperson and Gaborone Central Member of Parliament (MP), Dumelang Saleshando did not have much to say except to acknowledge that 'Dibotelo is the most senior judge', hence he was the right man for the job in the circumstances.

Botswana National Front (BNF) spokesman, Moeti Mohwasa said that he would have preferred the appointment of judges to be done after conduct of interviews in public. However, he referred enquiries to party president Otsweletse Moupo, whose phone rang unanswered. In her personal view, Secretarial General of RETENG Multi Cultural Coalition of Botswana Lydia Saleshando (nee Ramahobo) said that though there were judgements that Dibotelo passed, that could be viewed as undemocratic and anti-human rights, he was the right candidate for the job.

She cited the case in which Basarwa were challenging their relocation from the Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve (CKGR) and that some people felt that his judgement was anti-human rights. Three judges presided over the landmark case. She however welcomed the appointment.