31 October 2023
The World Justice Project ranks Botswana’s justice system as the best in Africa and one of the best in the world. The report, published last week, shows that Botswana recorded an improvement in both its criminal and civil justice systems against the global trend, which shows regression for both systems.
The index for the criminal justice system looked at whether the “criminal justice system is impartial, free of corruption, free from improper government influence: and whether the due process of the law and rights of the accused are respected. It further looked at whether the criminal investigation system is effective; the criminal adjudication system is timely and effective and the correctional system is effective in reducing criminal behaviour.
Ranked number one in Africa and 32nd out of 142 countries in the world with a score of 0.59 points, Botswana, however, seems to be the best among the worst. WJP scores range from 0 to 1, where 1 signifies the highest possible score (very good criminal justice system) and 0 signifies the lowest possible score (weak criminal justice system) and Botswana is only 9 points shy of the halfway mark between very strong and very weak.
In fact, Botswana scored more points for its civil justice system at 0.61 although it ranks 46th in the world and third in Africa after Mauritius with 0.63 and Namibia with 0.62. This measure looked at whether “people can access and afford civil justice”; the extent to which the civil justice system “is free of discrimination, corruption and improper government influence.”
The index also assessed whether the “civil justice is not subject to unreasonable delay” and is effectively enforced. It also looked at the extent to which “alternative dispute resolution mechanisms are accessible, impartial, and effective” All in all, Botswana has the best overall score for both the criminal and civil justice systems at 0.60, followed by Namibia a and Mauritius at 0.59 each. The report states,
“Justice systems are failing to meet people’s needs. Despite the Sustainable Development Goal 16 promise of access to justice for all, the proportion of countries with declines in civil and criminal justice is growing.
Civil Justice is the rule of law factor that deteriorated in the most countries this year.”
About two out of three countries (66%) experienced a decline in Civil Justice in 2023, compared to 61% in 2022. Criminal Justice declined in 56% of countries this year, compared to 55% last year. Justice delays are increasing in a majority of countries, both in civil and criminal justice systems.” With an improvement of between 0 and 2% among the two systems between 2022 and 2023, Botswana was among the few countries that recorded a change for the better.
Botswana’s rule of law has improved under President Mokgweetsi Masisi compared to under his predecessor Lt Gen Ian Khama, The 2023 World Justice Project (WJP) report has revealed. The report further revealed Botswana is among a handful of countries bucking the global recession in the rule of law.
Source: https://www.sundaystandard.info/botswana-has-the-best-justice-system-in-africa-wjp/
