In commemoration of Africa Day, we celebrate the diversity of our fraternity and some of the legal icons who continue to influence the development of our profession and the judicial system in Botswana. We commend these African pioneers who continue to push forward the success of Botswana and Africa. Wishing everyone a happy Africa Day.
Justice Sanji Monageng
Judge Monageng is the first Motswana female appointed as judge to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Justice Monageng served at the ICC as a judge from 2009-2018. She was the First Vice President of the ICC holding tenure between March 2012-2015. Prior to joining the ICC, Justice Monageng served as a High Court Judge in the Republic of Gambia and the Kingdom of Eswatini. In 2019 Justice Monageng was sworn in as a judge of the Southern African Development Community Administrative Tribunal for a 2 year tenure.
Through her work, Justice Monageng advocates for a transparent and rigorous judicial appointment system requiring judges to uphold the highest standards of integrity and independence but also that States must respect judicial independence and not undermine judicial decisions.
“A successful judiciary is one whose members are appointed following a rigorous process assessing both the candidates legal qualifications as well as integrity”
Justice Professor Oagile Key Dingake
Justice Oagile Key Dingake is the first African to be appointed as judge to the Supreme and National Courts of Papua New Guinea. He was appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations in 2013 as a judge of the Residual Special Court of Sierra Leone. In 2020, he was appointed judge to the Seychelles Court of Appeal.
Justice Dingake served for more than a decade as a judge of the High Court of Botswana. He is an advocate for judicial training, labour rights and women’s rights.
“It seems to me that the time has now arisen for the justices of this court to assume the role of the judicial midwives and assist in the birth of a new world struggling to be born, a world of equality between men and women as envisioned by the framers of the Constitution.”
Justice Memooda Ebrahim-Carstens
Justice Ebrahim-Carstens was the first female Motswana appointed as a Judge of the Industrial Court of Botswana. Subsequent to that, she served as a judge of the High Court of Botswana. Justice Ebrahim-Carstens was appointed judge to the United Nations Dispute Tribunal in 2009 with her term ending 30 June 2019.
Justice Ebrahim-Carstens is a champion for gender representation inclusivity and access to justice.
“We need to collaborate regionally on law reforms, on appropriate institutions for access to justice, and its enforcement. We need to be courageous and fearless agents of change. But mostly we need to lead by example as African leaders, no matter what our profession. We all must lead, whether as diplomats, politicians, lawyers, and judges; but most of all as mentors and role models for our young persons.”