The person charged with restoring some of both is Shamila Batohi, who left the International Criminal Court to take charge of South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in February. Her appointment is central to Mr. Ramaphosa’s efforts to clean the house. “Everyone says there is a lot on my shoulders,” says Ms. Batohi. “The people of South Africa are impatient, understandably so.”
Few doubt her ability but her success is far from assured.
Expectations are far greater than what any prosecution service can deliver.
Yet Ms Batohi believes that the NPA is serving as a deterrent to graft. Previously there was little chance that the corruption would be investigated. “Those days are gone,” she says.
Yet opponents of Mr. Ramaphosa – many of whom want him out so they can keep stealing and stay out of jail – will almost certainly cry foul if senior figures of the African National Congress are prosecuted.
“It is not gonna be quick,” she says. But adds to Ms. Batohi, “failure is not an option.”
It sure sounds familiar to what is the situation in Armenia except maybe it might be more difficult in Armenia.
Nikol Pasinyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, does not have the “luxury” to appoint an Armenian judge with credentials and experience in the International Criminal Court to take charge of Armenia’s National Prosecuting Authority.
Moreover, the judiciary system in Armenia from top to the bottom is loaded with the appointees of the previous regime and most still remain loyal to their previous “bosses”.
The newly appointed young Minster of Justice started the process of reforming the judiciary system. Yes “It is not gonna be quick,” It might take even longer much longer in Armenia but surely the “failure is not an option.”
Meantime Prime Minister Pashinyan has the legitimacy (earned through the first free and fair elections in Armenia) to govern the country for the next four years and reform not only the judiciary but also the electoral system and at the end of his mandate, through a second fair and free election try to earn a second mandate and thus try to accomplish the objectives of the Velvet Revolution that brought him to power.
A tough challenge indeed. But if the past year’s accomplishments are of any indication, I think he is on the right track and wish him and his young team all the success to finish the job they started over a year ago and turn Armenia into an irreversible free fair and prosperous country. Here too the “failure is not an option.”
Zohrab Bebo Sarkissian
