Molokomme condemns poaching

LERATO MALEKE
Correspondent | Saturday May 11, 2013 00:00

Responding to Chief Justice Maruping Dibotelo's speech this week, she described the poaching of elephants and rhinos, as a new and disturbing trend that threatens to undermine the tourist industry. 'The demand for ivory and rhino horn in certain parts of the world has fuelled the unprecedented and cruel slaughter of these animals in some of our neighbouring countries,' she stated. However, she said government is determined to protect wildlife and keep the country free of poachers.  She urged courts to ensure that poaching cases are heard expeditiously and convictions result in 'a punishment that fits this heinous crime should be imposed'. She said a unit at DPP has been established to deal with the prosecution of corruption cases to complement the efforts of the judiciary where a judge has been dedicated to handle graft cases.

Molokomme is pleased that the terms and conditions of service for magistrates have been improved. But she stated that the laudable reforms the judiciary has introduced will come to naught if the conditions of service of state attorneys, the police, DCEC, prisons and other supporting institutions remain unattractive.To this end, she said she is working with the Ministry of Presidential Affairs to design a comprehensive strategy that will address staff attrition at the state law office.She said they have put in place a number of interventions and initiatives that include increasing the training budget to arrest the situation. She said contrary to the belief in certain uninformed quarters, lawyers in the public service carry very heavy workloads and work punishing and long hours.

'In spite of the negative publicity generated whenever the courts decide against the government in the so called 'high profile' cases, our success rate in both criminal and civil cases has consistently been over 80 percent,' she said. She appealed to all judicial officers to recognise the concern of the public regarding the rise in certain crimes, by being strict on the granting of bail, especially to repeat offenders. She said it has become apparent that some accused persons on bail treat their freedom as a license to harass complainants and family members.  Therefore she said a strong message must be sent to them that the constitutional right to liberty comes with a responsibility.She said the location of the High Court in Gaborone will stop lateness by government attorneys and the costs incurred in travelling to Lobatse have been reduced. She said the cost savings should not be made at the expense of the Lobatse courts. She said the upcoming review conference on the Judicial Case Management (JCM) in October will discuss the problems associated with bail. She supported sentiments by the Chief Justice that finger pointing among stakeholders in the criminal justice system will not resolve problems. She said she has been assured by the DPP that steps are being taken to strengthen the system by which the decision whether or not to oppose bail is made to ensure that criminals are not let loose on the public. She said she has previously suggested that the Chief Justice consider issuing a practice directive on bail because of conflicting court decisions.