02 Feb 2017

Members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi has passed a motion that requested to amend Part VII Rule 38 (1) and (2), which will enable the House to vote using secret ballot system.

Motivating his motion on January 31 at the ongoing Ntlo Ya Dikgosi session, Kgosi Galeakanye Modise of Tswapong region said voting through a secret ballot would give members dignity as well as maintain friendship among members.

Kgosi Modise noted that some members were naturally shy and did not feel comfortable to vote openly against motions raised by their colleagues, particularly that some were close friends.

He noted that in such instances, some of dikgosi who were not brave enough, were bound to vote otherwise to please their colleagues even though they would consciously know that their action may be regrettable in future. 

He therefore called on the House to opt for this system which has so far proved to be respectable and pleasant.   

Kgosi Modise had proposed that the new Rule should read; “(1) When a division has been ordered a bell shall be rung for two minutes. On conclusion of that time the chairperson shall repeat the question and the votes of the members present shall be taken by secret ballot.”  

“And (2) As soon as the voting is complete the counting of votes shall be transparent such that each member present shall see what has been written on each ballot and the chairperson shall state the final numbers voting for the Ayes and for the Noes respectively and shall then declare the result of the division.”

Supporting the motion, Kgosi Aleyo Ledimo of Maun Region noted that he has over sometime learnt that some members voted against their will contrary to what they initially held  when they were debating because of 'friendship pressure' or out of  fear that they may be deemed to be pariahs. 

This he said, has resulted in the house rejecting and losing meaningful motions unnecessarily.

Debating the motion is support, kgosi Modise Monyamane of Kgalagadi North Region said it will be a sad development for the House to reject this motion  while at the same time both the chairperson of the House and his deputy are elected through secret ballot. 

He noted that this system has also been adopted at council and Village Development Committee levels.

For his part Kgosi Sekgoma Moipolai of North East Region said the new practice will afford Dikgosi a friendly and coercion-free atmosphere as they will be honest with their opinions and not influenced by anything. 

On the other hand Kgosi Kgomotso Boiditswe of Serowe Region argued that the current system was okay because people will never always agree on any point. 

He said the country has long practiced that open system which should be natured and cherished. 

However the House ultimately passed  the motion.    

Responding to the motion, assistant minister for presidential affairs, governance and public administration Mr Thato Kwerepe said the Constitution of Botswana has not prescribed the method by which the decisions of the House are to be determined. BOPA