Mohloai Mpesi
Maseru May 09, 2022
The long awaited opening of the Northern Division High Court located at the TÅ¡ifa-Li-Mali Court Complex in Hlotse, Leribe will finally happen and start trials next Monday.
According to a circular released by the Registrar of the High Court ‘Mathabo Sekoai earlier today, the opening will be marked by a short ceremony which shall be presided by The Prime Minister Dr Moeketsi Majoro.
“The addresses are hereby informed that the Northern Division of the High Court situated Tšifa-Li-Mali; Hlotse Leribe will be opened on May 16, 2022, through a short ceremony led by the Right Honourable Prime Minister at 10:00 am,†the circular reads.
The four storey building equipped with inter alia, multi-purpose hall as well as a cafeteria at the ground floor has been going on since October 2013 with anticipation of completion set for between July and September 2015 which was later extended to February 2016 at a projected cost of M113 778 752.
The building was initially budgeted a contract value of M89 273 032 but the amount increased to M101 091 695 after researches.
The court was designed to hold six court rooms, eight holding cells and sixty-five office spaces.
Sekoai further stated that Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane will lead the first motion court proceedings immediately after the opening ceremony, thus inviting all legal practitioners based and practising in the Northern Region.
“In preparation for the take-off of operations of the court, filing of cases will start on Wednesday May 11, 2022. Citation of cases registered at the High Court-Northern Division shall be in a manner similar to the one in the main division, but end with a forward slash and ND, e.g. CIV/APN/…/22/ND, LC/APN/…22/ND, CRI/T/… /22/ND,†she said.
The court will be expected to have jurisdiction over matters arising from Mokhotlong, Butha-Buthe and Leribe as part of measures to offload the Central High Court in the Capital Maseru and basically decentralise the court.
