26 Apr 2022

The envisaged constitution should accord prisoners the right to vote during general elections, a resident has told Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the review of the constitution of Botswana.

Making his submission during a kgotla meeting in Kang yesterday, Mr Power  Gaetseiwe said leaving convicts behind in such an important national exercise was the disenfranchisement of the highest order that needed to be corrected immediately. “A magolegwa ba letlelelwe go tlhopha ka fa molaong,” he said.

Another speaker, Mr Mooketsi Mosanako wanted the supreme law of the land to ensure that the positions of the National Assembly speaker and deputy speaker were shared equally among the ruling and opposition parties.

He was of the view that unless abolished, positions of nominated members of parliament and councillors should similarly be shared equally by the ruling party and the opposition.

“A mogolopolo wa special nominations o hedisiwe kgotsa ba ba busang le ba kganetso ba kgaogane ka go lekana dipalo tsa mapalamente le makhanselara a go nna jalo,” he proposed.

His sentiments were shared by Mr Bricks Bareeleng who also advocated for the recognition of ministers of the gospel so that the voice and counsel of God may be given to people in the corridors of power.

“Jaaka Tautona a itlhophela mapalamente, kopo yame ke gore a a lebe le ko go ba kganetso ka gore ke Batswana ebile ba ka tswa ba na le botlhale jo bo rileng.

A a tlhophe le mo go ba kganetso gore le bone be etelele lefatshe pele,” he stated. Adding to the debate, Mr Phenyo Maapelo said as much as he supported the direct election of the president school of thought, he wanted the same with the vice-president.

He also called for the autonomy of the Ombudsman, who he argued should report directly to the parliamentary committee and not the president as was presently the case.
Also, Mr Maapelo expressed contentment with regard to the national development plans, which he said at times were not people-centered.

Mr Benco Kaxarike’s greatest desire was that affirmative action rendered to Basarwa in settlements ought to also be extended to Basarwa living elsewhere countrywide.

Early on Kgosi Basadi Seipone made a clarion call to Batswana to show diligence in the review exercise so that peace and harmony may continue to reign in Botswana.

“Ke leboge thata Tautona yo eleng wa botlhano o o lemogileng gore molao-motheo o sekasekwe morago ga dingwagangwaga, monna yo o dirile go tlala ka diatla.

Mme jaanong re tshwanetse ra sekaseka molao-motheo wa rona ka manontlhotlho gore re direle dikokomane tsa rona sentle go na le ledula le kagiso le tshwaragano ya setshaba,” she said to the applause of her subjects who filled the kgotla to take part in the review exercise.

Kgosi Seipone submitted that the institution of bogosi should be made the fourth arm of government after the legislature, cabinet and the judiciary. ENDS