31 Mar 2022

 The constitution should provide for appraisal of legislators throughout their five-year term as a well as a recall clause for non-performance, said Mr Obusitse Ntirelang, of Komana in Ngamiland district during a kgotla meeting addressed in the village by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Review of the Constitution. 

Mr Ntirelang argued that having the same person doubling as MP and Minister should stop as it overburdened political representatives, rendering them unproductive in the process. 

Another resident, Mr David Karumbe expressed his displeasure at Section 78 of the constitution of Botswana and labelled it as discriminatory. 

“A go baakanngwe karolo e ya molao-motheo ka gore mo Botswana re na le merafe ele mentsi thata,” he said submitting also that every tribe found in Botswana should have its kgosi-kgolo representating it in Ntlo-Ya-Dikgosi. 

He felt strongly that the population census was not given due attention for it to be done seamlessly. 

There was therefore need, he submitted, to set aside and declare as public holiday, a day or two for the exercise. 

“A go nne le public holiday ka fa molao-motheong gore batho ba e magaeng batle ba balwe sentle,” he said. 

Mr Othusitse Modriver of Nxaranga wanted the constitution of the land to impose harsher sentences on cattle-rustlers and that stock-theft cases should be tried only at the kgotla. 

Magistrate courts, according to Mr Modriver were hamstrung by a backlog of cases that made speedy dispensation of justice an almost impossible feat. 

“Magodu a a dikgomo a tshwanetse gape a seka a letelelwa go emela tseko ba le ko ntle jaaka go diragala mo nakong eno,” he said. 

Ms Neoemang Moxaisa said she was opposed to granting bail to murder suspects bail. 

She felt doing so was not fair to the family that had lost a loved one and had the potential to stir animosity between the perpetrator’s family and the deceased’s. 

Mr Banna Sebopiwa wanted the law of the land to recognise Parents and Teachers Associations (PTA) and that members of the same should be given sitting allowance of P150 taking into account their meaningful contribution towards education. 

An allowance according to the Komana Primary School PTA Chairman would go a long way attracting young people to volunteer their time towards such important community engagements. 

On others, Mr Sebopiwa called for counting of votes for candidates vying for the position of members of parliament at election venues. 

This, he said, would make the elections more credible and expedite the announcement of results. 

Other people called for the entrenchment of a law that would force the government to fully resource the police to fight crime. 

They argued that under-resourced police service made communities targets of criminal syndicates. BOPA