18 Oct 2020

The fourth  meeting of Ntlo ya Dikgosi resumes today with the Constitution (amendment) Bill, expected to take centre stage.

The bill was referred to Ntlo ya Dikgosi in accordance with Parliament Standing Order 72.4 and Section 88 (2) of Constitution of Botswana and was published in Government Gazette Extraordinary No. 75 dated 17th July 2020-Constitution (Amendment) Bill No.14 2020.

The object of the bill was to insert a new paragraph at Section 68 to cause vacancy in the seat of an elected member of the National Assembly who, having been elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of a political party, resigns from the political party.

Similarly, the proposed amendment would cause a vacancy in the seat of an elected member elected to the National Assembly as a candidate not a member of a political party.

The effect of the proviso is to ensure that the coming into effect of the amendment does not immediately create a vacancy in the seat of those members who would have already changed political allegiance.

Speaking in an interview, Ntlo Ya Dikgosi chairperson, Kgosi Puso indicated that he expected fruitful deliberation from the session that would kick start ministerial briefing in the first  week  followed by consideration of the bill in the second week.

“We are anticipating a hectic schedule with briefings by Ministry of Health and Wellness, Ministry of Investment Trade and Industry, Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and

Gender Affairs, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development as well as Vision 2036 council and Directorate on Ethics and Integrity,” he said.

Kgosi Puso highlighted that he is positive that Dikgosi will do justice to the bill consideration more so that they be deliberating from an apolitical stand point.

Further, He said  even though the proposed bill consideration will particularly be focusing on floor crossing, he remains optimistic  that the long talked about Constitutional review will in the near future be brought to Ntlo ya Dikgosi’s attention.

Kgosi Puso said dikgosi had keen interest to deliberate on the comprehensive constitution review at the appropriate time, adding that some of the pertinent issues to be under the sportlight would be the structuring  and composition of Ntlo ya Dikgosi as well the role of bogosi going forward. ENDS