The Botswana Legał System Charles M Fombad Licence en Droit (LLB) (University ofyaounde) LLM, PhD (University oflondon) Professor, University of Botswana Emmanuel K Quansah LLB, LLM(University oflondon) LLD (Unisa) Associate Professor, University of Botswana LexisNexis DURBAN
Contents Preface v Part I General introduction Chapter 1 The meaning, functions and classification of law 1.1 What is law? 3 1.2 Law distinguished from other normative systems 4 1.2.1 Law distinguished from morality 4 1.2.2 Law distinguished from customs, conventions and other social norms 6 1.3 Law and justice 6 1.3.1 Legał justice 7 1.3.2 Distributive or social justice 7 1.3.3 Corrective (rectificatory or remedial) justice 8 1.3.4 Natural justice 8 1.4 The divisions of the law 9 1.4.1 National law and international law 9 1.4.2 Common law and civil law 9 1.4.3 Law and eąuity 10 1.4.4 Private law and public law 10 1.4.5 Civil law and criminal law 11 1.4.6 Common law and statutory law 12 1.4.7 Substantive law and adjectival or procedural law 12 1.5 The functions of the law 13 1.5.1 The maintenance of social order 13 1.5.2 The settlement of disputes 14 1.5.3 The regulation of economic activities 14 1.5.4 The protection of property rights 14 1.5.5 The protection of interests 15 1.5.6 The regulation of the principal organs of power 15 1.5.7 Other functions 15 1.6 The limitations on the effectiveness of the law 16 Chapter 2 Introduction to the major legał systems in the world 2.1 Introduction 19 2.2 The common law legał system 21 2.2.1 History and development of English law 22 2.2.1.1 The development of English law and the common law courts 22 2.2.1.2 The development of equity 23 vii
viii The Botswana Legał System 2.2.2 The sources of English law 25 2.2.2.1 Common law 25 2.2.2.2 Eąuity 25 2.2.2.3 Legislation 26 2.2.2.4 Custom 26 2.2.2.5 Law merchant 26 2.2.2.6 Canon law 26 2.2.2.7 Roman law 26 2.2.2.8 Law reports and judicial precedents 26 2.2.2.9 Textbooks 27 2.2.2.10 European Community and European Union law 27 2.2.2.11 European Convention on Human Rights 27 2.2.3 The structure of English courts 28 2.2.3.1 The European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights 29 2.2.3.2 The House of Lords 29 2.2.3.3 The Court of Appeal 30 2.2.3.4 The High Court 30 2.2.3.5 The Crown Court 30 2.2.3.6 The Employment Appeal Tribunal 30 2.2.3.7 Magistrates' courts 31 2.2.3.8 Youth courts and youth justice 31 2.2.3.9 Family courts 31 2.2.3.10 County courts 31 2.2.3.11 Coroners' court 31 2.2.3.12 The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council 32 2.2.3.13 Courts of particular jurisdiction 32 2.2.3.13.1 Courts-martial 32 2.2.3.13.2 Ecclesiastical courts 32 2.2.3.13.3 Restrictive practices court 33 2.2.3.13.4 Naval courts 33 2.2.3.13.5 Court of chivalry 33 2.2.3.13.6 Court of protection 33 2.2.4 The personnel of the law in the English legał system 33 2.2.4.1 Thejudges 33 2.2.4.2 The law officers 'Z^Z'IZZZZZ 2.2.4.3 The legał profession 2.3 The civil law or Romano-Germanic legał system 2.3.1 Origins 2.3.2 The main characteristics of the civil law system 2.3.3 An illustration of the dvii law legał system using the French legał system 2.3.3.1 The sources of French law 2.3.3.1.1 Legislation 2.3.3.1.2 Case law (la jurisprudence) 2.3.3.1.3 Legał writings (la doctrine) 2.3.3.1.4 Custom 2.3.3.2 The structure of French courts 2.3.3.2.1 The generał principles that govern the structure of French courts 2.3.3.2.2 The actual structure of French courts 34 34 35 35 36 3 ' 3 ^ 3y
Contents ix 2.3.3.3 Legał personnel in France 41 2.3.3.3.1 Judges 41 2.3.3.3.2 The legał profession 42 2.4 The socialist legał system 42 2.5 Religious legał systems - The Muslim legał system 43 2.5.1 The structure of Muslim law 43 2.5.2 The sources of Muslim law 44 2.5.2.1 The Koran 44 2.5.2.2 The Sunna 44 2.5.2.3 The Ijma 44 2.5.2.4 The kiyas (or qiyas) or analogical reasoning 44 2.5.3 Muslim law today 44 2.6 African law 45 2.6.1 Some generał featuresof African law 46 2.6.2 Sources of African law 46 2.6.2.1 Custom 46 2.6.2.2 Legislation 47 2.6.2.3 Precedents 47 2.6.2.4 Expert opinions 47 2.6.2.5 Other sources 48 2.6.3 The future of African law 48 2.7 Mixed or hybrid legał systems 48 Part II The development of the Botswana legał system and the sources of law Chapter 3 The historical origins and development of the legał system 3.1 The pre-colonial period 53 3.2 The colonial period 54 3.2.1 The declaration of the protectorate 54 3.2.2 Genesis of the modern legał system - The reception of the English common law and Roman-Dutch law 55 3.2.3 The co-existence of received laws with custotnary law 57 3.3 The post-independence period 59 3.3.1 The hybrid and dual legał order 59 3.3.2 The dynamics of legał reforms 60 Chapter 4 The sources of law applicable in Botswana 4.1 Legislation 66 4.1.1 Forms of legislation 66 4.1.1.1 Acts of Parliament 66 4.1.1.2 Delegated or subsidiary legislation 67 4.1.1.3 Autonomie legislation 68 4.1.2 Purposes of legislation 69 4.2 Common law 70 4.2.1 The meanings of the expression "common law" 70 4.2.2 The content of Botswana common law 70 4.3 Judicial precedent 72 4.3.1 Judicial precedent as a source of Botswana law 72
The Botswana Legał System 4.3.2 The generał naturę of the doctrine of binding precedent 72 4.3.3 The binding elements in precedents 73 4.3.3.1 The ratio decidendi 73 4.3.3.2 The obiter dicta 74 4.3.3.3 Precedents that are not binding 76 4.3.3.3.1 Precedents that constitute persuasive authority 76 4.3.3.3.2 Precedents that have been overruled 76 4.3.3.3.3 Precedents that can be distinguished 77 4.3.3.3.4 Precedents establishedper incuriam 78 4.3.4 The operation of the doctrine of binding precedent within the hierarchy of courts in Botswana 78 4.3.4.1 The Court of Appeal 79 4.3.4.2 The High Court 81 4.3.4.3 Magistrates' courts 82 4.3.4.4 Customary courts 82 4.4 Customary law 82 4.4.1 The meaning of customary law 82 4.4.2 The ascertainment of customary law 84 4.4.3 The conditions for the recognition and enforcement of customary law 87 4.4.4 Conflict of customary laws 88 4.5 Lawreports 89 4.6 Legał writings 89 Part III The administration of justice Chapter 5 The courts of generał jurisdiction 5.1 Introduction 93 5.1.1 The classification of courts 93 5.1.1.1 Superior courts and inferior or subordinate courts 93 5.1.1.2 Courts of record and courts not of record 94 5.1.1.3 Civil courts and criminal courts 94 5.1.1.4 Trial courts and appellate courts 94 5.1.1.5 Courts and tribunals 94 5.1.1.6 Courts of generał jurisdiction and courts of special jurisdiction 95 5.1.2 The structure of courts 96 5.1.3 The applicability of certain generał principles 96 5.2 The Court of Appeal 97 5.2.1 Composition 97 5.2.2 Jurisdiction 98 5.2.2.1 Appeals as of right 98 5.2.2.2 Appeals by leave 99 5.2.2.3 Appeals by the prosecution in criminal cases 100 5.2.2.4 Powers of the Court of Appeal in criminal cases 101 5.2.3 The impact of the Court of Appeal on the legał system 102 5.3 The High Court 103 5.3.1 Composition 104 5.3.2 Jurisdiction 104 5.3.3 Powers of the court when hearing appeals 106 5.4 Magistrates' courts 107 5.4.1 Regional Magistrate 108
Contents xi 5.4.1.1 Civil jurisdiction 108 5.4.1.2 Criminal jurisdiction 108 5.4.2 Chief Magistrate 109 5.4.2.1 Civil jurisdiction 109 5.4.2.2 Criminal jurisdiction 109 5.4.3 Principal Magistrate 109 5.4.3.1 Civil jurisdiction 109 5.4.3.2 Criminal jurisdiction 109 5.4.4 Senior Magistrate 109 5.4.4.1 Civil jurisdiction 109 5.4.4.2 Criminal jurisdiction 110 5.4.5 Magistrate Grade 1 110 5.4.5.1 Civil jurisdiction 110 5.4.5.2 Criminal jurisdiction 110 5.4.6 Magistrate Grade II 110 5.4.6.1 Civil jurisdiction 110 5.4.6.2 Criminal jurisdiction 110 5.4.7 Magistrate Grade III 110 5.4.8 Matters excluded from the jurisdiction of magistrates' courts 111 5.5 Customary courts 111 5.5.1 Classification of customary courts 112 5.5.1.1 Informal or unofficial customary courts 112 5.5.1.2 Formal or official customary courts 114 5.5.2 Jurisdiction 115 5.5.2.1 Civil jurisdiction 115 5.5.2.2 Criminal jurisdiction 115 5.5.3 Appeals 116 5.5.4 Control and supervision of customary courts 116 5.5.4.1 Supervision by the Minister and his appointees 117 5.5.4.2 Supervisory powers of chiefs 117 5.5.4.3 The revisory powers of magistrates' courts and Customary Courts of Appeal 117 5.5.4.4 Supervisory powers of the High Court 118 Chapter 6 The courts of special jurisdiction 6.1 The industrial court 119 6.1.1 Composition 119 6.1.2 Jurisdiction 120 6.2 The juvenile court 121 6.2.1 Composition 121 6.2.2 Jurisdiction 122 6.3 The court-martial 124 6.3.1 Composition 124 6.3.2 Jurisdiction 125 6.4 Land tribunal 126 6.4.1 Composition 126 6.4.2 Jurisdiction 126 Chapter 7 Judges 7.1 Appointment 129
The Botswana Legał System 7.2 Security of judicial office 131 7.2.1 Tenure 131 7.2.2 Discipline and removal from office 133 7.2.3 Due process of removal and discipline 133 7.3 Judicial independence 134 7.4 Judicial immunity 137 7.5 The judicial function 138 7.5.1 Extra-judicial functions 138 7.5.2 Administrative functions 139 7.6 Contempt of court 140 7.6.1 Criminal contempt of court 140 7.6.2 Civil contempt of court 142 Chapter 8 Magistrates and members of customary courts 8.1 Appointment 145 8.2 Security of judicial office 147 8.2.1 Tenure 147 8.2.2 Discipline and removal 147 8.2.3 Due process of discipline and removal 148 8.3 Judicial independence 148 8.4 Judicial immunity 149 8.5 Contempt of court 149 Chapter 9 The Attorney-General 9.1 Appointment 151 9.2 Security of tenure 151 9.3 Constitutional status 152 9.4 Functions 152 9.4.1 Civil Litigation Division 152 9.4.2 Legislative Drafting Division 153 9.4.3 International and Commercial Division 153 9.4.4 Departmental Management Division 153 Chapter 10 The Director of Public Prosecution 10.1 Appointment 155 10.2 Security of tenure 155 10.3 Constitutional status 156 10.4 Functions 156 Chapter 11 The legał profession 11.1 Legał education 162 11.2 Admission to practise 163 11.2.1 Admission and enrolment of citizens 163 11.2.2 Pupillage 165 11.2.3 Admission and enrolment of Commonwealth citizens 166 11.2.4 Admission and enrolment of non-citizens 168 11.2.5 Admission of foreign advocates 169
Contents xiii 11.3 Organisation of the profession 170 11.3.1 Attorneys 170 11.3.2 Advocates 171 11.3.3 The Law Society 171 11.4 Liabilities of legał practitioners 172 11.4.1 Liability for professional misconduct and other offences crcated under the Act 172 11.4.2 Liability as officers of the court 176 11.4.3 Civil liability 178 11.5 The Fidelity Guarantee Fund 178 11.6 Remuneration 179 11.7 The role of legał practitioners in society 180 Part IV The enactment and interpretation of statutes Chapter 12 The enactment of statutes 12.1 The pre-legislative stage 183 12.1.1 The sources of legislation 184 12.1.2 The consultative process 186 12.1.3 The role of the Cabinet 186 12.1.4 The drafting process 187 12.2 The legislative stage 188 12.2.1 The first reading 189 12.2.2 The second reading 189 12.2.3 Proceedings before the Committee of the Whole House and a Select Committee 190 12.2.4 The third reading 191 12.2.5 Amendments to the Constitution 192 12.2.6 Presidential assent 193 12.3 Conclusion 193 Chapter 13 The interpretation of statutes 13.1 The different parts of a statute 196 13.1.1 The enacting parts of a statute 196 13.1.1.1 The interpretation or definition sections 196 13.1.1.2 Provisos 197 13.1.1.3 Savings 198 13.1.2 The other parts of a statute 198 13.1.2.1 The title 199 13.1.2.2 Thepreamble 200 13.1.2.3 Marginal notes or side notes 200 13.1.2.4 Headings 200 13.1.2.5 Schedules 201 13.1.2.6 Punctuation 202 13.2 The generał rules of statutory interpretation 202 13.2.1 The literał rule 203 13.2.2 The golden rule 205 13.2.3 The mischief rule 207 13.3 Presumptions 209 13.3.1 The presumption that the legislature did not intend to be unreasonable or to cause injustice 210
xiv The Botswana Legał System 13.3.2 The presumption that the legislature did not intend to allow for ineąuality and partiality of treatment 211 13.3.3 The presumption that the legislature did not intend to deprive an individual of his vested rights 211 13.3.4 The presumption that taxation statutes should be strictly interpreted in favour of the taxpayer 212 13.3.5 The presumption in favour of the strict interpretation of penal statutes 212 13.3.6 The presumption that statutes should be interpreted in favour of individual liberty 214 13.3.7 The presumption that the accused must have committed an act with mens rea to be convicted of a statutory offence 215 13.3.8 The presumption that the legislature did not intend to alter the existing law morę than is necessary 216 13.3.9 The presumption against interpreting statutes in such a way as to oust or restrict the jurisdiction of the superior courts 216 13.3.10 The presumption against the interpretation of statutes in such a way that they operate retrospectively 221 13.3.11 The presumption against interpreting statutes in such a way as to violate a rule of international law 224 13.3.12 The presumption that a reference in a statute to any action or conduct is intended to be a reference to lawful action or conduct 224 13.3.13 The presumption that the same words in the same statute have the same meaning 224 13.4 Maxims 225 13.4.1 The ejusdem generis rule 225 13.4.2 The expressio unius, exclusio alterius rule 227 13.4.3 The cessante ratione legis cessat ipsa lex rule 228 13.4.4 The noscitur a sociis rule 229 13.4.5 Statutes in pari materia 230 13.4.6 The rule that a later law repeals an earlier law that is inconsistent with the later law 232 13.4.7 The rule that a passage is best interpreted by reference to what precedes and what follows it 232 Part Y Some fundamental legał skills Chapter 14 Elements of good examination practices and skills 14.1 Preliminary matters 235 14.1.1 Introduction 235 14.1.2 Types of law examination ąuestions 235 14.1.3 The importance of looking at past examination ąuestions 236 14.2 General advice on answering examination ąuestions 236 14.2.1 Before embarking on answering examination ąuestions 237 14.2.1.1 Reading, understanding and selecting ąuestions 237 14.2.1.2 Understanding certain key words in examination ąuestions 238 14.2.1.3 An outline answer or plan 238 14.2.2 The presentation of the answer 239 14.2.2.1 The structure of a good answer 239 14.2.2.2 Other important issues of content and presentation 240 14.2.3 The problem of avoiding irrelevancy 241
Contents xv 14.3 How to approach problem ąuestions 242 14.3.1 Identification of legał issues raised in the ąuestion 243 14.3.2 Statement of law relating to the legał issues disclosed by the facts 243 14.3.3 Relating the law to the factual situation disclosed by the facts 243 14.3.4 Suggesting the solution to the problems raised and the conseąuences that follow 244 14.4 How to approach essay ąuestions 244 Chapter 15 Introduction to legał writing - Writing a research paper 15.1 Some preliminary observations 247 15.2 Selection of a topie 248 15.2.1 A checklist of possible topie sources 249 15.2.2 Assessing the feasibility and practicability of the topies 249 15.2.3 The role of staff members, potential supervisors and the subject librarian... 250 15.3 Researching the topie 251 15.3.1 Literaturę search 251 15.3.2 Preparing a working bibliography 253 15.3.3 Effective note-taking 253 15.4 The skeleton outline or plan 254 15.5 Writing the paper 254 15.5.1 The structure of the paper 254 15.5.2 Drafting, editing and proofreading the paper 255 15.5.3 The importance of expressing yourself clearly 255 15.5.4 The use of footnotes/endnotes 256 15.5.4.1 Conventions in footnoting 256 15.5.4.2 Signals used in footnotes 257 15.6 Some generał matters of form 258 15.6.1 Headings 258 15.6.2 Use of active and passive voice 258 15.6.3 Avoidance of lazy writing 258 15.6.4 Variation in writing style 258 15.6.5 Consistency in spelling 258 15.7 Example of a format for the structure and presentation of a research paper 258 15.7.1 Preliminaries 259 15.7.1.1 The title page 259 15.7.1.2 Abstract 259 15.7.1.3 Acknowledgements 259 15.7.1.4 Table of contents 259 15.7.2 Thetext 260 15.7.2.1 The introduction 260 15.7.2.2 The main body of the paper 261 15.7.2.3 The conclusion 261 15.7.3 Reference materiał 261 Bibliography 263 Table of cases 269 Table of statutes 277 Index 285