Appeals Court opens, bureaucrats blasted

RELEBOHILE TSOAMOTSE

MASERU – Appeal Court President, Dr Kananelo Mosito says the court’s failure to sit in April cannot be blamed on the administration of the courts but should be placed on government’s doorstep.

Dr Mosito made the remarks yesterday when officially opening the first sitting of the Appeal Court May session.

He said there were attempts aimed at stifling the proper functioning of the court by certain individuals within government

“Who could be so naïve as not to see what was happening,” Justice Mosito said.

Efforts to frustrate the court, he said were made notwithstanding that Parliament passed the budget for the financial year 2019/2020.

“There were clearly some unfortunate self-serving unpatriotic attempts by some individuals and bureaucrats aimed at stifling the functioning of this court,” he added.

He expressed his appreciation at the stance taken by the Law Society of Lesotho against those acts, saying that helped in the proper administration of justice in the country.

The court was supposed to have sat in April, but its session was postponed indefinitely, with the government citing financial constraints.