February 4 set for opening of legal year

Mpho Tlale | Tuesday January 14, 2014 17:13

Speaking to Mmegi yesterday, the public relations officer of  the High Court of Botswana, Clement Sibanda, said the opening of the legal year was a formality that was observed every year in order to notify the public about legal proceedings while cases were already being heard.

Sibanda said those responsible were currently working on a suitable theme, emphasising that the idea was to make the opening of each legal year different from previous ones.

However, certain aspects always remain the same, he noted.

Accordingly, President Ian Khama will be the guest speaker while the Attorney General, Atalia Molokomme, is also lined up to speak.

The Chief Justice Maruping Dibotelo will deliver the keynote address while a special place on the programme is always reserved for the Chairman of the Law Society of Botswana.

Other judges, magistrates, journalists and Members of Parliament will also be present. 

Sibanda said members of the public were always encouraged to attend the opening of the legal year because they were an integral part of the country's judicial system.

Many issues were raised on the August occasion last year, among them uncollected maintenance fees.

A circuit system in which staff of courts visited rural areas for the money to be collected was suggested as a solution.

The exponential rise in stock theft cases and the resultant backlog was also raised. Acquisition of offroad vehicles that can withstand tough country terrain was suggested, among possible solutions.