Autonomy seeking magistrates suspend "go-slow"

Lesotho's magistrates, who have been agitating for salary hikes and independence of the country's lower courts, suspended a four-day old "go-slow" on Wednesday. "We have given the government a month's time to address our grievances - we are considered an arm of the executive at the moment which is contrary to the constitution," said Manyathela Kolobe, president of the Judicial Association of Lesotho. The country's constitution describes the judiciary as a separate arm of the state. The "go-slow", which began last Thursday had stalled proceedings in the lower courts, with the magistrates refusing to handle new cases. The more than 40 magistrates deployed in in the country's 10 districts had been protesting against alleged interference in the functioning of the judiciary and have demanded the enactment of a six-year old Judicial Administration Bill, which provides for their autonomy. "At the moment, the magistrates report to the Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Rehabilitation, who has the power to hire and fire them. They [the magistrates] would prefer being answerable to the chief justice," said Malevakeng Forere, human rights coordinator for the Lesotho Council of NGOs (LECONGO). The other two higher courts in the mountain kingdom's judicial system - the High Court and Appeal Court - fall outside the purview of the ministry,and are perceived as independent. Low salaries are a further cause for disgruntlement among magistrates. "Our salary scales are also linked to the civil servants and are pathetic," said Kolobe. The chief magistrate, the senior-most official in the lower courts earns about US $1,500 a month. A ministry of justice official told IRIN that the cabinet was considering the magistrates' "grievances".