21 Mar 2022

Until such a time that each and every tribe in Botswana has a Paramount chief, who sits in Ntlo-Ya-Dikgosi, the constitution of the land cannot be deemed democratic. 

This was the feeling of many who a kgotla meeting addressed by the Presidential Commission of Enquiry into Review of the constitution of Botswana in Kasane yesterday.

Those who expressed their dissatisfaction on the matter said, in particular, Section 77 (2) of must be repealed and replaced with a clause that would promote equality among various tribes.

Section 77 (2) spells out that the House of Chiefs shall consist of (a) eight ex-officio members, (b) four elected members, and (c) three specially elected members.

One of the speakers, Mr Molapisi Kasona said the status quo did not augur well for the country’s highly respected democratic credentials and Christian background.

“Ke dumela gore go tsile nako ya gore merafe yotlhe mo lefatsheng la Botswana, a ke Mumbukushu kana ke Mosarwa ba nne le paramount chief. A go godisiwe Ntlo-Ya-Dikgosi diparamount chief tsotlhe tsa lefatshe la Botswana di tsene mo teng. Selo se se tlaa re thusa gore dingwao tsa rona le diteme tsa rona di seka tsa nyenyahadiwa,” he said, meaning Ntlo ya dikgosi should be expanded to accommodate other tribes, their cultures  and languages.

Mr Mbangu Kashweka of Plateau said any piece of legislation that demeans the identity of any tribe in Botswana should be repealed.

“Ga gona ope yo o ka reng ene o na le madi a a botoka gona le a yo mongwe.Modimo o re dirile ka madi a le mangwehela. Ke kgona go donaitela Mongwato kgotsa moChina madi,” he said, meaning he was no differenst from a Mongwato or a Chinese person to whom he could like anybody else donate blood.

 He added time had come for the establishment of a ministry responsible primarily for bogosi.

Mr Sangwana Sangwana echoed other speakers’ words and called for the cancellation of the entire Section 78 of the constitution on ex-officio members of the house of chiefs. 

He argued that instead, there should be a more inclusive clause.

The section reads: “The ex-officio Members of the House of Chiefs shall be such persons as are for the time being performing the functions of the office of Chief in respect of the Bakgatla, Bakwena, Bamalete, Bangwato, Bangwaketse, Barolong, Batawana and Batlokwa tribes, respectively.”

Another resident, Mr Chika Liwena also strongly suggested there should be a Ministry of Dikgosi and Culture which would oversee Ntlo-Ya-Dikgosi as the 4th arm of government.

Said Mr Mr Simasiku Mapulanga: “Nna yo ke buwang ha ne ke le monyennyane re opelela former President, the late Sir Ketumile Masire go ntse go buiwa kgang e ya tekatekano, bona gore gompieno ke kahe. Ga le re direle sentle,” he said. 

His argument was that so called minor tribes had been fighting for equality for too long to no avail.

Another issue that residents wanted the supreme law of the land to stipulate was de-recognition of same-sex relationships, which they said soiled the high moral standards Botswana was renowned for .BOPA