Batohi says there was no political interference during her NPA tenure

Former National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) boss Shamila Batohi said that there was no political interference during her tenure, adding that she received support from various quarters despite challenges in the job.

Batohi is the first National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) who completed a term in office without being controversially removed or forced to resign since 1998.

However, her tenure was not without criticism.

She came under fire for the slow enrollment of cases, while in other instances, cases were struck off the roll because of shoddy work by prosecutors.

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"I've had incredibly good support. And importantly, critically for the country, no political interference or pressure. And not from any of the ministers I've worked under, not from the president. And I'm not sure that we appreciate the value of this in our constitutional democracy.

"The value of a prosecuting authority, an NDPP, being able to do his or her work without that pressure. It is something that we must treasure, and I am grateful that I've had the support," said Batohi.

Batohi pointed to the achievement of the Asset Forfeiture Unit under her leadership.

"Almost 50% of all the money that has gone into the CARA [Criminal Asset Recovery Account] over the past 25 years, almost 50% of it has gone in the past four years. That is money that has been used to fight illegal mining, to fight organised crime now, and also given back to victims. So if you ask me about whether the NPA is better, it is exponentially better," she said.