Africa-Press – Lesotho. Chief Justice Sakoane Peter Sakoane has acknowledged progress made within the judiciary while raising concern over persistent challenges, including court congestion, delays in justice delivery and corruption, during the official opening of the 2025/2026 Judicial Year.
Chief Justice Sakoane said the ceremony marked an opportunity to reflect on achievements of the past judicial year and to chart the way forward. He noted that increasing access to courts has resulted in a growing backlog of cases, warning that congestion would remain a challenge as long as alternative dispute resolution mechanisms are not fully developed.
“To cope with this never-ending workload, there is a need to increase the number of judicial officers and strengthen institutions that deliver justice,” he said.
Chief Justice Sakoane stressed that judges must remain free from political and economic influence, while also being accountable to litigants through clear, reasoned and timely judgments grounded in law. He strongly condemned corruption within the judiciary, describing it as a betrayal of public trust.
“Corruption is not only a crime; it undermines the moral authority of the courts,” he said, adding that allegations of misconduct would be addressed through constitutional and ethical mechanisms without fear or favour.
Chief Justice highlighted reforms introduced during the past year, including new court rules aimed at streamlining procedures, reducing unnecessary applications and promoting efficient case management.
Among these are the Judicial Commissioners Court Rules, which seek to close long standing procedural gaps and harmonize court processes with constitutional principles.
He also underscored the importance of protecting victims of crime, noting that delays in criminal proceedings have real human consequences, including prolonged detention of accused persons and prolonged suffering for victims.
The Chief Justice called for the enactment of laws to compensate victims of crime, in line with international standards, saying such measures would help restore public confidence in the criminal justice system.
He appealed to Parliament and the Executive to further strengthen financial support for the courts and praised government for infrastructure improvements, including the refurbishment of several local courts in Mafeteng and Mokhotlong as well as the expansion of child friendly courts in the same districts.
