Court of Appeal

Also known as: CoA

Botswana's appellate court that hears appeals from lower courts and rules on cases including mining liquidation, property disputes, and government procurement contracts.

2026-05-122026-07-28

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

May 2026
15 MayMmegi
On 27 March 2026, the Court of Appeal (CoA) brought down the curtain on a long-running dispute over one of the country’s largest water-supply tenders. …
Ncojane P1.5 billion water tender blocked despite CoA approval
12 MayWeekend Post
… urvey of our case law reveals a popular belief that alcohol impairs criminal responsibility, especially in murder cases, and is therefore to be treated as an extenuating factor,” Kebonang observed. “The extreme uniformity of this belief, both at the High Court and Court of Appeal …
Intoxication Is No Excuse, Rules Judge Kebonang

Politics

Butale sues Attorney General over Penal Code deletion procedure

The News

Prominent attorney Biggie Ganda Butale has taken the Attorney General to the High Court, challenging the legality of a 2026 administrative order that removed the "unnatural offences" laws from Botswana's statute books without a final vote in Parliament. Butale argues the Statutory Instrument No. 41 of 2026 bypassed parliamentary authority, contending that only Parliament has the power to repeal laws under Section 86 of the Constitution.

27 July 2026 · Weekend Post →

Yesterday

Butale sues Attorney General over Penal Code deletion procedure
Prominent attorney Biggie Ganda Butale has taken the Attorney General to the High Court, challenging the legality of a 2026 administrative order that removed the "unnatural offences" laws from Botswana's statute books without a final vote in Parliament. Butale argues the Statutory Instrument No. 41 of 2026 bypassed parliamentary authority, contending that only Parliament has the power to repeal laws under Section 86 of the Constitution.
27 July 2026 · Weekend Post →
Constitution Amendment Bill 2025 advances toward referendum on Constitutional Court
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2025, adopted by the National Assembly to establish a Constitutional Court, now awaits a referendum before presidential assent. Debate focuses on whether the timing is appropriate given the country's economic situation, with proponents arguing a dedicated court protects democratic governance and human rights by ensuring constitutional questions are properly determined.
27 July 2026 · Weekend Post →

Tuesday 21 July

Ministry awards P654 million STEAM contract same day as adjudication
The Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education awarded a P654.4 million contract for an integrated STEAM e-learning, coding and robotics programme to Emeritus Training Academy Botswana through direct procurement, receiving the financial evaluation, adjudicating it, and approving the award all on 25 June 2026.
21 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →

Monday 13 July

Appeal Judge Leatile Dambe retires after nearly fifty years
Court of Appeal Justice Leatile Dambe, the first Motswana woman to serve on Botswana's highest court, will retire at the end of July upon reaching the mandatory judicial retirement age of 70.
13 July 2026 · Weekend Post →

Wednesday 10 June

Court of Appeal backs Nova Africa for Mupane Gold Mine
The Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the Nova Africa consortium and liquidator Kopanang Thekiso over rival bidder Ulsan Botswana in the Mupane Gold Mine liquidation proceedings, which the Botswana Mineworkers Union initiated in February 2025 on behalf of frustrated members.
10 June 2026 · Mmegi →

Tuesday 9 June

Court of Appeal to hear FNBB appeal in Guma Moyo property dispute
The Court of Appeal will hear an appeal on June 19, 2026, brought by First National Bank Botswana and two others challenging a High Court ruling that halted the sale of properties linked to businessman Samson Guma Moyo in an effort by FNBB to recover debts related to United Refineries Botswana Holdings. The central legal issue is whether a creditor may proceed against sureties or guarantors while the principal debtor company remains under judicial management.
9 June 2026 · Weekend Post →

Friday 5 June

Media practitioners urged to humanise LGBTQI+ stories
A workshop in Botswana trained media practitioners and journalists on covering LGBTQI+ issues responsibly. The training comes after the country's 2019 High Court ruling decriminalising consensual same-sex acts and subsequent Court of Appeal upheaval, as media coverage is recognised as capable of either challenging or perpetuating stereotypes.
5 June 2026 · Mmegi →

Tuesday 2 June

Court of Appeal overturns freeze on Mupane mine asset sale
Botswana's Court of Appeal has set aside a High Court interim interdict, allowing the liquidation and sale of Mupane Gold Mining's assets to proceed. The Nova Africa Resources/Aone Commodities DMCC Joint Venture's bid of USD 21.5 million upfront was recommended by the liquidator and endorsed by creditors over Ulsan Botswana's USD 500,000 upfront offer.
2 June 2026 · Weekend Post →

Monday 1 June

Court of Appeal clears Mupane mine asset sale for workers
The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court ruling that temporarily halted the sale of Mupane Gold Mine assets, moving hundreds of former workers closer to recovering unpaid salaries and benefits.
1 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →

Wednesday 20 May

Tawana JV accuses government of contempt in P1.5bn water contract dispute
Tawana JV's legal team has accused senior government officials of orchestrating a sham suspension of the Ncojane Water Supply Works procurement process to sidestep binding court orders. A March Court of Appeal ruling upholding the contract award to Tawana JV has been met with a suspension letter from the Ministry of Water and Human Settlement, which Tawana JV's lawyers describe as contempt of court and "illogical."
20 May 2026 · Weekend Post →

Friday 15 May

Court of Appeal approves P1.5bn water tender, but contract unsigned
The Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by Chinese construction firms and confirmed a P1.5 billion Ncojane Water Supply Works contract for a 100% citizen-owned bidder, Tawana Joint Venture, to serve villages in Charleshill and Kgalagadi North Constituencies. Over six weeks later, the contract remains unsigned and three state bodies appear resistant to complying with the Court's order.
15 May 2026 · Mmegi →

Tuesday 12 May

High Court judge rejects intoxication as excuse for murder
High Court Judge Dr. Zeinub Kebonang sentenced Tapologo Makwatse to death for the 2015 murder of his girlfriend Dipuo Ramalepa, rejecting the defendant's claims of drunkenness and ruling that voluntary drinking should be treated as an aggravating factor rather than a reason for leniency. The judgment challenges what the judge described as a legal trend in Botswana where courts accept vague terms like "under the influence" to reduce culpability without expert testimony.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →