Maseru – Chief Justice Sakoane Peter Sakoane says the Leadership Forum and National Accountability Summit has marked a historic moment for Lesotho by creating an opportunity for the public to engage directly with government institutions, including the Judiciary.

Speaking during the closing day of the summit on Friday, Chief Justice Sakoane said the initiative was important because many Basotho are eager to see justice delivered without fully understanding how the justice system operates.
"This is history in the making. We appreciate this opportunity because people are hungry for justice and want it to be delivered as quickly as possible," he said.

He said the Judiciary is committed to ensuring that justice is delivered within three months in most cases, unless there are exceptional circumstances that require more time.

The Chief Justice said the Judiciary has made significant progress since he assumed office, including reducing delays in the completion of cases.

He attributed the progress to the introduction of merit-based recruitment, saying judges are now appointed through an open and transparent process based on their qualifications and competence. He added that the recruitment process is publicised through the media to promote transparency.

He also said the Judiciary is improving court infrastructure by constructing modern court buildings that are accessible to all members of society, including people living with disabilities. He cited the Mohale's Hoek court as one of the facilities designed with accessibility in mind.

Chief Justice Sakoane further said the Judiciary presents an annual report to the public every February, outlining its achievements and the challenges facing the courts.

He added that the Judiciary is implementing digital systems, including electronic filing of court documents, to improve efficiency and reduce cases of missing files and corruption. He said the initiative will be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Information.

Earlier, Chief Justice Sakoane moderated the Parliament question-and-answer session, during which many members of the public called for the introduction of a "no work, no pay" principle to address absenteeism among Members of Parliament.
Meanwhile, Acting Government Secretary Mr. Lira Ralebese said questions that were not answered during the summit would be referred to the relevant ministries. He said responses would be provided through a special programme to be broadcast on Lesotho Television.

The three-day Leadership Forum and National Accountability Summit ended on Friday after bringing together government leaders and citizens to discuss service delivery, governance and national development.