12 Apr 2022

The current composition of the house of chiefs has served the country well over the years and should as such be left just the way it is says Kuke resident, Mr Molwe Monwela. Mr Monwela shared the sentiments during a constitutional review meeting held in Kuke in Ghanzi district on Monday.

“Nna ke bona go siame ke thulaganyo ya rona ebile ke ka fa modimo a dirileng ka teng gore go nne le ba ba golwane le ba bannye. Go seka gatwe go bolaiwa ka fa go dirilweng ka teng ka gore molao-motheo o fitlhetse tribal territory. Dikgosi tsone tseo di tswa go re kopela tshireletso ko go Mmamosadinyana,”he drove his point home.

Mr Monwela thus gave sections 77, 78 and 79 of the constitution thumps up.

He was also opposed to the notion of direct election of the president arguing it might bring adverse ramifications for the country and soil the peace and tranquillity that this country has enjoyed over the years.

Another speaker, Mr William Camm echoed Mr Monwela’s words and told all sundry that the constitution of Botswana was top-notch and needed not to be fixed.

He premised his argument on the fact that the supreme law of the land continued to protect the rights of the citizenry and safeguarded peace and harmony.

“Molao motheo o tshwere gotlhe ebile ga gona sepe se se ka fokotswang, go rena Kagiso ebile re sireletsegile re le setshaba,” he said in a nutshell.

However, other residents called for the removal of any article within the constitution that polarised the nation along tribal lines.

Mr Burns Kolwane was one of the residents who expressed their contempt for the constitution, especially Sections 77, 78 and 79 as they appeared in their current form.

“Nna ka re Merafe mongwe le mongwe a o nne le kemedi kwa Ntlong ya dikgosi.Ka gore gompieno jaana rona ba Ghanzi district le dikgaolo tse dingwe re tlhophelwa baemedi go re emela ko Ntlong ya dikgosi ha mefare e mengwe yone e sa tlhophelwe baemedi ba go nna jalo,” he relayed stating that status quo rendered the constitution discriminatory.

Another resident Mr Thebe Totego called for the establishment of constitutionally sanctioned programmes that would foster childbirth to raise Botswana’s population.

“Rena le selelo sa gore dipalo tsa batho ba lefatshe la Botswana ga di gole mo go kgotshofatsang segolobogolo jaaka maloba re ne re wetswe ke seru sa Corona.Ka jalo a go nne le mananeo a eleng gore a ka thusa go godisa bana ba go nna jaana gore ba nne le bokamoso jo bo siameng,” he remarked.

According to Mr Totego delay in land allocation by land boards across the country was a violation of the right to land for the citizens and should be dealt away with by the constitution.

He was in support of the direct election of the president and also wanted to see a cabinet comprising both ruling party legislators as well as those from the opposition aisle.

Also, Mr Toteng suggested the enactment of a law that would allow pupils with academic prowess to terminate pregnancies and be saved of the rigor of dropping out of school to nurse babies.

Mr Amos Johane told commissioners that the people of Kuke had proposed that the constitution should forbid instances where an individual acquired more than one farm leaving the rest of the population without land. Bokhutlo