the monitor

Paternal grandmother wins bitter child custody battle

Justice Lot Moroka PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Justice Lot Moroka PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

FRANCISTOWN: In what many Batswana may deem contrary to customary law, Justice Lot Moroka of the High Court here recently awarded the custody of a minor child to her paternal grandmother.

In Botswana, children exist under three different legal regimes often co-existing, namely, the common law, customary law and statute law. In this case, the child’s mother Unami Motlogolo gave birth to Lefika Motlogolo on November 12, 2014.

“The child’s biological father is one Botho Setho. At the time of the birth of the minor, the parents were not married. They never got married meaning that the child was born out of wedlock and remained so.

Editor's Comment
Gov't, unions must find common ground

The situation is exacerbated by the ruling party’s admission that some of its most important election promises remain unfulfilled. This is not the change many Batswana had expected. The UDC was elected into power on a strong promise to improve lives, create jobs, protect workers and repair public services. It is therefore, not enough for the party to point only to new ministries, policies and long-term plans. These may be necessary, but...

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