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.
