09 Sep 2020

 Selibe Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse has called for the amendment of the country’s constitution.

Contributing to sectoral debates on governance, peace and security in Parliament on September 8, Mr Keorapetse argued that the reason why the country’s democracy was slowly dwindling was because of the constitution which had some clauses that were no longer relevant, emphasising the need to amend the constitution.

He also said that a lot of institutions which ran the affairs of the government such as the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), and office of the Ombudsmen among others were not independent as they were still under office of the President and therefore failing to deliver satisfactorily.

He said it was time that such institutions and those appointed to lead them be independent without having to account to the President.

In addition, he suggested the establishment of an independent body which the DCEC could report to and also called  for the electoral reforms which would be  in line with the SADC principles governing democratic elections.

Furthermore he said corruption, fraud and money laundering incidences were increasing and a cause for concern in the country, calling for tougher actions in fighting such. ends