The Lesotho High Court re-opened on February 1 after its Christmas recess, with Chief Justice Mahapela Lehohla urging for a much speedier administration of justice. 

The Chief Justice said the backlog of cases pending in the courts is the result of a failure
to make follow ups on receiving returns of service disclosing the whereabouts of accused persons.

‘To help deal with the backlog, I have encouraged the Commissioner of Police and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to devise a plan in the form of a roll for the dead accused.'

The Judiciary will also revise the system through which witnesses were allowed to travel without having to pay cash, but by producing “warrants” that promised to pay bus and taxi operators later. Operators had become reluctant to accept these because it took too long for them to be reimbursed. 

The Chief Justice thanked Assistant Minister of Justice Mothejoa Metsing and his team for their efforts in ensuring that statutes spanning 1994 to 2005 are made available.

02 February 2006