The Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) today called on the authorities in Lesotho to guarantee the independence of the judiciary and to immediately take all legal and administrative measures necessary to make the Court of Appeal function as an independent and impartial highest judicial authority for the country. The call came as the AJJF and ICJ Conclude a 5 Day Fact Finding Mission to Lesotho which took place from 7 May to 12 May 2018
The mission emhpasized the importance of the Lesotho authorities ensuring that the constitutional and legal framework on the selection, appointment and tenure of judges and the actual practices conform to the international obligations of Lesotho pursuant the international human rights treaties to which it is party, as well as other applicable internationa standards
“During our mission we were troubled to discovered that the Court of Appeal has not sat in the past two of its scheduled sessions and with the current impasse we are concerned that it may not convene anytime soon,” stated Retired Chief Justice Othman Chande of Tanzania who led the AJJF/ICJ mission. “We also found that the Prime Minister had initiated a process that may result in the impeachment of the Chief Justice under controversial circumstances” he added.
The AJJF and the ICJ have been concerned for a number of years about threats to judicial independence in Lesotho. The ICJ carried out a fact finding mission in 2013 exposing and evaluating some of these concerns . The report of the mission contained with specific recommendations The AJJF and the IC are concerned that most of the recommendations that were made to address structural issues to do with guaranteeing the independence of the judiciary at law and in practice have not been implemented or otherwise addressed at all.
The appointment of the Chief Justice and the President of Court of Appeal is made by the King on the singular advice of the Prime Minister. Any impeachment of the Chief Justice and the President of the Court of Appeal is also initiated by the Prime Minister. These arrangements do not comport with international standards and give rise to the perception that the appointment of judicial officials and any impeachment action against them will be politically motivated. This has also lead to friction or strong perception of friction between the Executive and the Judiciary in a deeply polarized society.
The appointment process of the President of the Court of Appeal has been subject to prolonged political dispute and litigation that has resulted in a leadership vacuum at the appex court that has made it dysfunctional. The result is that all litigants who expect justice from the Court of Appeal have years of waiting before they can get their matters resolved. While the case challenging the appointment of an acting President of the Court of Appeal is presently set down for hearing at the High Court in the coming weeks, it is not clear that this adjucation will conclude the legal process and pave way for the appointment of the acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment of ordinary judges of the High Court is done by the King on the advice of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), which is chaired by the Chief Justice chairing a panel of only four people comprising the Chief Justice herself, Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, the Attorney General and one Judge. All these officials are effectively appointed by the Prime Minister or closely work with the Chief Justice resulting in strong perceptions that the appointment process of judges of the High Court is also opaque, not transparent and open to chronyism.
“It is important that the legal profession and the judiciary speak strongly in defence of independence of the judiciary, but currently the legal profession is deeply divided, distrustful and polarized” stated Retired Chief Justice Sakala. “It is therefore important that a practice of regular bar-bench dialogue be initiated to reduce toxic relations that are being exploited to undermine judicial independence” he added
The broader reforms that were recommended by the SADC Commission of Inquiry to strengthen governance in Lesotho have not been implemented wholly. The country needs broad reforms including in the judicial sector, but these reforms have been threatened or at least slowed down significantly by the instability in the successive coalition governments that make it impossible for the reforms to be carried out when the country is in a constant electoral mode.
The AJJF/ICJ mission was composed of Retired Chief Justice Othman Chande of Tanzania (Chairing); Retired Chief Justice Earnest Sakala of Zambia, Martin Masiga the Secretary General of the AJJF, Mary da Silva (ICJ) and Arnold Tsunga Director of the ICJ’s Africa Programme.
The mission met with a range of stakeholders, including Ms Nthomeng Majara the Chief Justice of Lesotho, Hon. Sephiri Motanyane the Speaker, Hon Teboho Lehloenya the Deputy Speaker, Adv Fine Maema KC the Clerk of Parliament, Hon Mokhele Moletsane the Minister of Justice, Adv. Hae Phoofolo KC the Attorney General, Leader of Opposition in the House and Opposition leaders, judges of the High Court, Justice Maseshophe Hlajoane President Court of Appeal designate, Justice Kananelo Mosito, academics, civil society, diplomats and the SADC Preventive Mission in the Kingdom of Lesotho (SAPMIL) and Adv Tekane Maqakachane, President law society.
Articles 7 and 26 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights protect the right to a fair hearing and guarantee the independence of the courts. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights contain similar guarantees.
The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights both guarantee the right to equality for all before the courts, and require that in the determination of rights and obligations and of any criminal charge, everyone shall be entitled, without undue delay, to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law.
The AJJF/ICJ mission hopes that the ongoing efforts to impeach the Chief Justice will fully respect her right to a fair hearing as stipulated in international obligations binding on Lesotho and that such efforts will strengthen rather than weaken the rule of law in an already fragile environment.
A report of the mission will be published and made publicly available
For more information please contact Arnold Tsunga, ICJ Africa Director on +27716405926 or arnold.tsunga@icj.org or Martin Masiga AJJF Secretray General on +256758516827 or okumu-masiga@africajurists.org