13 Feb 2022

By Moshe Galeragwe

GABORONE -  Leader of the Opposition, Mr Dumelang Saleshando says the ongoing process of reviewing the Constitution was commissioned without prior consultation with stakeholders.

Presenting a statement in Parliament on Friday, Mr Saleshando said Standing Order 9.3.2 gave him the powers to voice out issues that he viewed were of concern to the society.

Mr Saleshando said opposition parties had for long been advocating for the review of the Constitution, but their appeal was rejected by the ruling party on the ground that the Constitution was in order and serving its purpose.

“They would say, if it is not broken why fix,” said Mr Saleshando.

However, Mr Saleshando said prior to the last general elections, the ruling party ditched its stance and concurred on the need to review the Constitution. Mr Saleshando said the process of reviewing the supreme law of the country gave people an opportunity to actively engage in drafting a legislation that would serve them.

As such, Mr Saleshando said opposition parties, the general public, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders were eager to join hands with the ruling party towards a review of the Constitution, in a way that would unite rather than divide the nation.

Mr Saleshando said efforts were made to President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi reminding him to institute the process of reviewing the Constitution. Through a letter written on September 29, 2021, Mr Saleshando said he requested that the review must be done after a thoroughly consulting among other stakeholders; political leaders to formulate the process of the review

He said the process must be done in a transparent and cordial manner, engaging all stakeholders. Mr Saleshando reminded that government was to act as a facilitator of the whole process and not necessarily determining the content and process of the review.

Mr Saleshando said civil society organisations, workers unions, political parties’ representation among other concerned stakeholders were supposed to be involved in coming up with references of the review and selection of commissioners.

In addition, Mr Saleshando said, he had advised Dr Masisi on the need to engage Parliament to establish the Constitution Review Act to guide on what was to be done to avoid political interference.

The MP for Maun West said the BDP was not running the affairs of government through consultation as it was promised.

Despite efforts made to advise accordingly, Mr Saleshando said the Commission was announced on December 17, 2021 with its terms of reference.

He was of the view that the route that was taken to institute the commission was rather casting a spell of discord rather than uniting the nation. Mr Saleshando said it was unfortunate that proper consultation was not done prior to setting up the commission.

Furthermore, Mr Saleshando said Parliament, as an institution that makes laws, was mandated to decide on how the review of the Constitution was supposed to be done.

As such, he said the UDC would not have an input in the ongoing review of the Constitution as the process was not comprehensively initiated.

Mr Saleshando explained that consultation was part and parcel of the Tswana culture.  ENDs