25 Jan 2022

The forthcoming inquiry on constitutional review will usher changes that will improve governance and strengthen the rule of law; protect and preserve people’s right as well as ensure peace and stability for the country, Member of Parliament (MP) for Sefhare-Ramokgonami, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang said recently. 

Addressing a series of kgotla meetings in Sefhare and Matlhako last week, Dr Gobotswang said some of the changes he would propose included direct election of the President; appointment of cabinet ministers from among professionals who are not serving members of parliament; tribal equality as well as the abolition of the death penalty. 

“Botswana, allows for direct election of the president, in the same way MPs and councilors are elected,” he said 

He argued the President’s administration, including cabinet ministers, should be appointed on basis of their administrative acumen and qualifications. He said MP’s who were also cabinet ministers were overwhelmed with responsibilities and obligations to serve their voters while at the same time performing their ministerial duties. Consequently their constituencies suffered. 

Having ministers as qualified people who are not serving MPs would therefore ensure efficient and effective service delivery. Dr Gobotswang opined that the Bogosi Act should be reviewed. In particular Dikgosi should be given due respect as born tribal leaders. 

“The current constitution gives the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development power over dikgosi such that he or she could dismiss them from work at whim. 

The new constitution should give the kgosi’s uncles power, and not the minister, to deal with his or her errant behavior,” he said. 

Sanctions may include suspensions or compelling him or her to abdicate. 

He said traditional leaders, played a crucial role in the socio-economic development of the country and needed to be fully recognised as national leaders in their own right, and their institution should be run independently of government. 

Dr Gobotswang submitted that the current constitution encouraged tribalism as it considered some tribes to be superior to others. 

That, he said, could lead to conflict. It was therefore important that the new constitution should accord equal treatment to all tribes. 

Touching on the contentious issue of the death penalty, Dr Gobotswang said Batswana needed to think carefully about it, especially as the government was under pressure from the United Nations to abolish it. 

On other issues, the MP informed residents about the upcoming population census. He said that the exercise was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that it would be conducted this year. 

He explained that the census would help to inform government development agenda and determine if any ward and constituency delineations were necessary. 

Dr Gobotswang said his proposal was that Sefhare/Ramokgonami constituency should revert to Tswapong South, as the current name was discriminatory because it left out other villages in the constituency. 

Meanwhile, Sefhare/Ramokgonami residents urged government to ensure that they benefited from the Limpopo River. 

They said all land along the river was under private ownership, which denied them access to the river. 

In the same vein, they argued there was shortage of pastures and they could not water their animals in the river owing to the fact private farms blocked the way. ends