News

The University of Botswana (UB) and the judiciary are exploring a partnership aimed at enhancing the training and professional development of judicial officers with a particular emphasis on legal ethics and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). This follows a meeting between UB management and the Chief Justice, Justice Gaolapelwe Ketlogetswe, as well as various stakeholders from the judiciary including the Law Society of Botswana (LSB), Office of the Chief Registrar and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services. The UB team was led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor David Norris.

During the meeting, held on the 10th of April 2025 at UB, there was recognition of the growing need for specialised training in legal ethics and ADR within the country’s judicial system. Justice Ketlogetswe lamented that a shortage of trained professionals in ADR and legal ethics was contributing to delays in the court system. He underscored the importance of equipping judicial officers with the necessary skills to effectively manage and resolve disputes.

“We approached UB to discuss the possibility of collaborating on the development of short courses and programmes designed to enhance the skills of judicial officers in these critical areas,” Justice Ketlogetswe remarked. “The shortage of professional arbitrators in the country, coupled with the backlog of cases in the courts, is a challenge we must address.”

The Chief Justice also expressed concerns about the establishment of a commercial court in Botswana. He explained that without properly trained judicial officers, the success of the commercial court could be compromised. He called for the development of homegrown programmes in legal ethics and ADR at UB to provide the judiciary with the local expertise needed to strengthen the country’s justice system.

Justice Ketlogetswe also highlighted the financial barriers that many Batswana faced when seeking justice, further exacerbating delays in dispute resolution. He proposed the creation of a government-funded ADR system that could complement the traditional court system to enable judicial officers to resolve disputes efficiently while maintaining social harmony.

Justice Ookeditse Maphakwane, a Judge of the High Court, echoed the Chief Justice’s concerns, stressing that the country’s commercial court would face significant operational challenges without more trained arbitrators. With only 10 certified arbitrators in Botswana, he warned that the country might be forced to rely on foreign experts to fill this gap.

At the meeting, the Head of the Department of Law, Dr Jimcall Pfumorodze, acknowledged that while the University currently offered ADR programmes at Master’s level and legal ethics at undergraduate level under a different name, there was a clear need to strengthen and expand these offerings. Both Acting Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Tachilisa Balule and Vice Chancellor, Professor David Norris, agreed that incorporating ADR and legal ethics into the undergraduate curriculum was crucial.

“It is essential that we equip students not only with theoretical knowledge but also with practical experience,” said Professor Norris, underlining the need for collaboration between UB and the judiciary.

Both Professors Norris and Balule appealed to the judiciary to partner with UB by offering guest lectures and presiding over moot court sessions to provide students with practical exposure to the judicial process. The initiative, they suggested, would bridge the gap between academic learning and the real-world application of law.

Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Teaching and Learning, Professor Richard Tabulawa, also supported the call for more hands-on experience. “It is not enough for students to be taught in a classroom, they need to experience the real world of legal practice,” he said, urging increased interaction with practicing professionals.

The meeting also explored the possibility of establishing a School of Law at UB which would provide a more focused and specialised approach to legal education. Such a school would not only improve the student-to-lecturer ratio but also offer a deeper commitment to professional development in the legal field.