02 Apr 2025

President Advocate Duma Boko has sworn in Dr Onkemetse Tshosa and Mr Onkagetse Pusoentsi as new High Court judges at the Office of the President today. 

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, President Boko said the two were appointed to the bench at a time of human rights-based governance. He said it was therefore imperative for them to look at their judiciary role as per the Constitution and interpret the law.

“Laws are enacted by Parliament. But if there is a dispute, it falls on the judiciary to interpret the law,” he said.

President Boko said what sets the Judges apart from the rest, was their knowledge of the law and the ability to listen to arguments. Furthermore, he said the executive should not be seen interfering with the judiciary.

Thus, he said Judges should do their job without fear of favour, adding that even when the state was wrong, they must say so, so that people could have confidence in their judgements.

“This is democracy and every institution must be subjected to criticism,,” he said.

Meanwhile, before his appointment, Dr Tshosa was a Law Lecturer at the University of Botswana and holds Bachelor of Law degree from the same university, a Masters of Law from University of Lund in Sweden and a Doctor of Law from the University of Edinburgh.

He is not new to the bench as he was Judge of the High Court from 2010-2012 but the resigned following a road traffic accident and charges. From 2019-2021, Dr Tshosa was the Judge of High Court of Lesotho.

Mr Pusoentsi has been practicing as a private attorney for the past 22 years. He brings to the bench an experience as a litigation attorney, legal advisor, alternative dispute resolution expert, employment and labour law expert. He graduated in Bachelor of Law from the University of Botswana in 2003. ENDS