Lesedi Moahi Signals a Thaw in Ties Between Lawyers and Chief Justice

A meeting between the Law Society of Botswana and Chief Justice Gaolapelwe Ketlogetswe may have eased a strained relationship, but the lawyers’ demands for clearer judicial appointment rules remain on the table, according to the Society’s chairperson, Lesedi Moahi. Moahi told the Gazette that the two sides met last week and discussed judicial appointments among other issues. He said the Society recognised improvements in recent recruitment exercises, suggesting the encounter offered a chance to repair relations after public disagreements between the legal profession and the Administration of Justice. The dispute had raised concerns about cooperation between the institutions. The Law Society has previously questioned how judicial vacancies are filled, including the lack of publicly advertised positions, the criteria used to select candidates and the transparency of the Judicial Service Commission’s work. Moahi said that although the latest appointments showed noticeable progress, the Society still wants a clear and unambiguous procedure for choosing judges. In its view, established rules should support merit, fairness and equal opportunity while safeguarding the judiciary’s independence and credibility. The meeting therefore appears to have opened a door to better working relations, but it has not settled the underlying debate over reform. The Society’s acknowledgement of progress came alongside a continued call for a more transparent framework, indicating that reconciliation does not mean dropping its concerns. Moahi declined to share the full details of the discussion, telling the Gazette that the Society would brief its members before making the contents public. For now, the meeting marks a tentative step toward calmer relations, while the question of how future judges are appointed remains unresolved.