Makati Law Consultancy

14/05/2026

The Employment and Labour Relations Act, 2025 has been gazetted and assented to by the President of the Republic of Botswana.

However, it has not yet commenced. A date of commencement will be gazetted, once issued.

Currently regulations are being drafted, which will operationalise the Act upon being finalized.

13/05/2026

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12/05/2026

This week we share our legal opinions on the new Employment and Labour Relations Act, 2025 at the 3rd Industrial Relations Conference Botswana 2026 whose theme is The New Dawn: Key to Industrial Relations Transformation.

Specifically we will address the topic as indicated, ushering the new law from the old and legal transition to be expected.

08/05/2026

Botswana mourns the passing on of its third President, His Excellency Dr Festus Gontebanye Mogae.

We remember him as the Economist in whose hands the economy of our country grew in leaps and bounds, securing the strong fiscal foundation which our forefathers and his predecessors had established.

In June 2013, Oxford University unveiled a portrait of “Old member and Honorary Fellow Festus Mogae”. It was recognised that in 2008, the former President of Botswana had been awarded the Grand Croix of the legion d’honneur for his “exemplary leadership” in making Botswana a “model of democracy and good governance”. At the time he was serving as Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General on Climate Change and Oxford Trustee of the Rhodes Trust.

What a man Botswana groomed, and he gave back fully. A true statesman until the end.

May his soul rest in peace.

01/05/2026

Even in these hard economic times, we have workers rising to the occasion to make each day count. We honour these workers across Botswana and the world.

This year’s theme is Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate. We owe it to all workers to provide safety and protection in the changing climate conditions as well as to promote good health and wellbeing.

We urge each employer, investor and government to remember the safety, sacrifices and efforts of all workers even as we make policies and laws, to look after the hands that make the wheel turn.

04/04/2026

In humility, we join with the Christian community in echoing these eloquent words of Eliza R Snow, adopted as hymn 195 in the LDS hymn book:

1. How great the wisdom and the love
That filled the courts on high
And sent the Savior from above
To suffer, bleed, and die!

2. His precious blood he freely spilt;
His life he freely gave,
A sinless sacrifice for guilt,
A dying world to save.

3. By strict obedience Jesus won
The prize with glory rife:
“Thy will, O God, not mine be done,”
Adorned his mortal life.

4. He marked the path and led the way,
And ev’ry point defines
To light and life and endless day
Where God’s full presence shines.

May we be steered towards His glory and presence this Easter weekend and forever more.

08/03/2026

We live in a country where our generation has enjoyed rights and freedom, gained because of the work of the womenfolk who stood up for equal rights and opportunities for women and girls. We were girls at the time and now women of today, who continue to give back to our country manyfold. This is testament to the fact that when you give to a woman, she multiplies and nurtures a nation, as our country has seen over time.

We call on the government, policymakers, and indeed our men and boys, to recognize the theme for this year, which is Give and Gain, and particularly for the menfolk to awaken to their responsibility to role model and lead our boys positively into responsible humans who understand the importance of respecting and honouring Women and Girls in all manner of living, from the professional field, to home.

At Makati Law, we know full well that equal rights and opportunities given to Women and Girls, return manyfold, and we pledge our support unreservedly.

06/02/2026

After all the preps and sacrifices of time over the recent holidays, we are here about to argue our first appeal for this session. Court of Appeal, 2026.

03/02/2026

Knowing the difference between these two cultures is key!

Toxic Culture vs. High‑Accountability Culture
Why are we confusing the two? 😕

Lately, every time a workplace emphasises delivery, ownership, or accountability, someone quickly labels it “toxic.”
But let’s be honest — not every uncomfortable moment is toxicity. Sometimes it’s just responsibility.

A Toxic Culture is:
- Pressure without clarity
- Urgency created by poor planning
- Leaders who micromanage but don’t support
- Blame when things go wrong, silence when things go right
- Emotional instability disguised as “passion”

This environment drains people.
It’s not about delivery — it’s about dysfunction.

A High‑Accountability, High‑Performance Culture is:
- Clear expectations and measurable outcomes
- Direct communication that respects people and protects standards
- Leaders who coach, not control
- Teams that own results, not excuses
- A pace driven by purpose, not panic

This environment stretches people.
It builds competence, confidence, and consistency.

The confusion happens because:
Many professionals have only experienced chaos, not clarity.
So when they finally meet real accountability, it feels like pressure.
And when leaders avoid accountability, they hide behind the word “fast‑paced.”

But here’s the truth:
Delivery is not toxic.
Accountability is not abuse.
High standards are not hostility.

The real toxicity is when organisations tolerate mediocrity, avoid hard conversations, and call it “protecting culture.”

If we want excellence, we must normalise:
- Owning deadlines
- Delivering quality work
- Giving and receiving feedback
- Holding each other to the standard we agreed on

Healthy cultures don’t fear accountability — they thrive on it.

Maybe it’s time we stop confusing discomfort with toxicity, and start recognising that growth requires both support and standards.

03/02/2026

Today, we witnessed the official opening of the legal year, 2026 under the theme, The Court as a Public Service.

This is a reminder to all of us, from the Court room to the Attorney General and to the private practitioner, to show up and serve with a conscience.

May we all strive to do our best, and enjoy great success this year.

The year is officially legal ✅