This was revealed by Minister of Justice Machana Shamukuni in Parliament on Monday. Responding to a question from Okavango legislator Kenny Kapinga, the minister said the JSC has noted over the years that senior, prominent and outstanding lawyers were not applying for vacant positions as they are successful in their own right and have no need to apply for a job. Kapinga wanted to know about the appointment of commissioners and advertisement of posts for judges. Shamukuni said the lawyers, however, would wish to serve the country as judges if selected for interview by the JSC itself. He said the new call for expressions of interest procedure which commenced on January 2019 sought to combat this issue of lawyers who do not want to apply for jobs.
Shamukuni also indicated that this procedure will ensure that the JSC has a list that includes prominent and outstanding lawyers to shortlist from which does not involve them applying. He said the JSC has created a Register to enter the names of eligible lawyers interested in being considered for the position of Judge of the High Court. “Only those who confirm their availability at the time of a vacancy will be called for an interview at that time.
