Hon Judge Sanji Mmasenono Monageng, a national of the Republic of Botswana was on 7th October, 2019 sworn-in as the Judge of the Southern African Development Community Administrative Tribunal (SADCAT) effective 15th August 2019 for a two-year renewable term in accordance with Article V of the SADCAT Statute.
The swearing in ceremony took place at the SADCAT Chambers in Gaborone, Botswana and was attended by, among others, the SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Corporate Affairs, Ambassador Joseph Andre Nourrice, judges and representatives of the legal fraternity in Botswana, senior government officials and other dignitaries.
The Oath of Office was administered by SADCAT President, Hon. Justice Francis Bere, in the presence of other SADCAT Judges namely, Hon. Justice Pedro Nhatitima, a Supreme Court Judge from Mozambique and retiring Justice Kato Van Niekerk, a retired High Court Judge from Namibia at an extra-ordinary session of the Tribunal.
In his statement, Hon. Justice Francis Bere, welcomed Hon. Judge Monageng to SADCAT bench. He expressed optimism that her wealth of judicial experience will greatly benefit SADCAT in executing its mandate. He also paid tribute to retiring Justice Van Niekerk for her ability and determination with which she handled the affairs of SADCAT since 2017 when she was appointed to the SADCAT bench.
In addition to the sitting bench, Hon. Judge Monageng joins a group of other SADCAT judges that include Justice Ivy Kamanga, a High Court Judge from Malawi; Justice Mbutfo Mamba, a High Court Judge from the Kindom of Eswatini; Justice Regina Rweyemamu, a retired High Court Judge of the United Republic of Tanzania and Justice Fulgency Chisanga, a Judge of the Court of Appeal in Zambia.
Hon. Judge Monageng graduated with a Law Degree from the University of Botswana in 1987. In the legal fraternity, she served as Principal Magistrate in the Magistrate Courts of Botswana and was later, very instrumental in setting up the Law Society of Botswana in 1997, eventually becoming its first Chief Executive Officer.
She has served in prominent positions at international level, having been the First Vice President of the International Criminal Court, expert Judge of the High Court of the Kingdom of Eswatini and Judge of the High Court of Gambia under the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation. She also served as Commissioner of the African Commission (AU) on Human and Peoples’ Rights which was established by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU.
She is a member of many international organisations including the International Association of Women Judges, the International Commission of Jurists, International Commission on Missing Persons, International Association of Refugee Law Judges, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa.
SADCAT is an independent institution of SADC headed by an elected Judge President who is assisted by the Secretariat. It was established to resolve labour disputes between SADC Secretariat or any of its institutions, as an employer, and the employee. In line with Article V of the SADCAT Statute, the Tribunal is composed of a pool of seven (7) Judges who are persons of high moral character and in possession of qualifications required for high judicial office.
