09 Dec 2020

Parliament has been implored to consider reviewing electoral reforms instead of debating the floor-crossing Bill.

Contributing to the proposed Constitution (amendment) Bill, 2020 (Bill No.14 of 2020) debate, Mr Ramogapi dismissed the proposed amendments, saying they were centred on safeguarding the interests of the ruling party.

The Bill he said was prejudiced as it was motivated by the expected exodus of legislators from the ruling party to join forces with opposition ranks.

He contended that the Bill’s objective to cause a vacancy in the case an elected member opted to resign from a political party would be an unfair practice since candidates spent a lot of money in financing their campaigns.

Mr Ramogapi said Parliament should rather invest in reviewing the electoral reforms instead of debating a Bill that would not serve the interests of the electorate.

He argued that there had been a plummeting trend in the fairness and freeness of Botswana’s electoral system, citing the 2019 election petitions, which he said were a clear testimony to the demeaning standards of the current electoral system.

He highlighted that elections were the most integral and important part of politics in a democratic system of governance and that true democracy could function only when elections to the offices of power were held in a free and fair manner.

The process of electoral reform, he said, should focus mainly on broadening the core meaning of democracy and making it more citizen-friendly.  

Reforms, he said, should include the introduction of the best practices in ensuring better democracy, clean politics and fair elections.

Member of Parliament for Sefhare-Ramokgonami, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang also objected the Bill, saying it was in contradiction to Section 13 of the Constitution of Botswana as it deprived legislators their freedom of association.

He said there was no rationale on why the ruling party had to table the Bill at a time when a holistic Constitution review was looming.

He thus conceded that the Bill was hasty and politically motivated.

He said the notion that the Law Reform Committee was commissioned in 1998 to consult Batswana on the motion on floor-crossing could not be credible after two decades since the dynamics had changed.

Dr Gobotswang also reaffirmed the need for electoral reforms, highlighting that the reforms would contribute to better participation of electorate in the electoral practices and reduce the political corruption and irregularities that marred the previous general elections.

He said the current approach to the Bill was ill-motivated as the ruling party had, for years, been benefiting from floor-crossing.

Dr Gobotswang further indicated that Parliament should rather pass a Bill on recalling legislators who failed their constituents.

In support of the Bill, Boteti East MP, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe said it would further enhance the country’s democracy since it was in line with his constituent’s aspirations.

He dismissed opposition party MPs view that the Bill would deny politicians freedom of association, explaining that the Bill only seeks legislators to vacate the MPs seat when floor-crossing.

Shashe West MP, Mr Fidelis Molao stated that political party officials had to be subservient to the discipline of their organisations.

He said it was only fitting for legislators to relinquish their seats the moment they defect to another party.

The debate continues. Ends