09 May 2022

The review of the constitution should be done such that peace is preserved and guaranteed, says former Shoshong Member of Parliament, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele. He said this when making his submission before Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the review of the Constitution of Botswana in Shoshong yesterday.

In as much as he embraced views held by many Batswana to solidify the supreme law of the land, Mr Makgalemele believed that peace was one feature that had not only woven the nation together but had promoted socio-economic stature of Botswana since independence. “Nna ke dumela gore dilo tse di dirileng gore lefatshe la Botswana le kgone go tlhabologa ke kagiso.

Jalo he, molao-motheo o tshwanetse wa kwalwa ka tsela ee leng gore Batswana ba ka tswelela ba tshelela mo ledula le thokgamo,” he said, giving President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi credit for the move to review the document in its enterity for the first time. Mr Makgalemele also besought a provision that would allow for the holistic review of the constitution every 10 years.

Such a provision, he stated, would spare the country any autocratic tendencies that might arise in future. “Ga re a tshwanela go tsaya gore re tla a tswelela re na le bo Tautona ba ba kutlwisiso mo nakong tse di tlang ka jalo go botlhokwa gore molao-motheo o sekwasekwe dingwaga dingwe le dingwe tse di lesome,” he said. Another speaker, Mr Baipoledi Mogologolo warned the nation about the cons of using different languages in schools, saying it had the potential to divide the nation along tribal lines if due care was not taken. “Re ka itumela fa molao-motheo o ka kwalwa ka puo ya Setswana,” he said conveying the message on behalf of the people of Koodibeleng.

The commission learnt also that the people of Mosolotshane wanted polling day to be entrenched in the constitution for transparency. Mr Kgolagano Kegorilwe relayed that it was the wish of his fellow residents to have a constitution that promoted tribal equality and that the same document should have a provision that allowed for the recall of non-performing politicians.

Mr Golebaone Moabi of Otse submitted that it should be the duty of the government to take its people through the basics of the constitution. He said also that the people of Otse would like the supreme law of the land to allow the general public to break the stalemate on pertinent matters such as motions of no confidence on government by parliamentarians.

“A molao-motheo o re neele sebaka sa go tsaya ditshwetso re le setshaba mo dikgangnyeng di tshwana le mogopolo wa go tlhoboga goromente,” he stated. Former Mosolotshane councillor, Mr Mogalakwe Mogalakwe called for the direct election of the President and for Ntlo-ya-dikgosi to be given veto powers to approve and disapprove some of the laws passed by Parliament. He said also that instead of having the minister impeach a Kgosi, the constitution should rather provide for the reverse.

Mr Ramotsepane Ramotsepane wanted the legislation that would confer the powers to institute a commission of inquiry to the Parliament and not the President as was the case at the moment.
He was of the view that Section 61 of the constitution which speaks of the qualification for one to be a member of parliament, especially part (d) should have an educational threshold of either Diploma or a Degree in any field.

In its current status part (d) reads, “A Member of the National Assembly should be able to speak, and unless incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause, to read English well enough to take an active part in the proceedings of the Assembly.” “ A gape re tsenye mapalamente go tsweng ka fa go ba kganetso mo khuduthamageng ya ga Tautona.”

Mr Mothoothata Lesole expressed disdain for dikgosi who joined politics. He opined that dikgosi should steer clear of politics and that those who harboured venturing into politics should quit bogosi.

He pleaded therefore for the constitution to completely bar dikgosi from active politics. Ms Cathrine Abonne, an elder in Shoshong shunned the idea of same sex relationships saying the idea deviated from the law of God. “A re boife modimo.

Re lefatshe la tumelo re seka ra ipiletsa phutso,” she said warning that acceding to this unbiblical concept would spell doom for the nation. Former Member of Parliament for the then Gaborone West Constituency, Mr Robert Molefhabangwe called on the review of crown land countrywide.

He also wanted the constitution to bring to an end the tendency to elect dikgosi. “Ga ke dumele mo go reng dikgosi le baruti ba tlhophiwe kgotsa ba tlhophe. A ba sa amane gope le ditlhopho go nne ke ba tshereganyi,” he said submitted. ENDS