10 May 2022

- Knowledge of the country’s Constitution determines the direction to which citizens can drive their country.

A Mookane resident Ms Bathonyana Bakwena, told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Review of the Constitution yesterday that the ongoing review exercise had revealed how Batswana had limited knowledge on their Constitution.

Ms Bakwena noted that with the Constitution being the core of the fibre that knitted together a nation, it was paramount that Botswana not only infused the document into its educational curriculum but also made its teaching compulsory. 

“People from other nations know and understand themselves. That cannot be said of us, that is why the Constitution should be taught in schools and such teaching be made compulsory,” she stated.

She further appealed for its simplification, observing that in its current format, its wording was too complex to be understood by an ordinary citizen.

On yet another issue, the resident asked for the Constitution to clearly spell out that men and women were equal in the eyes of the law.

She said until gender equality was entrenched in the Constitution, it would remain wishful thinking.

Sharing similar sentiments earlier, Kgosi Borumolano Tshipana of Mookane indicated that given the importance of the Constitution, Batswana’s knowledge of it should not be left to chance. She said as much pupils were being taught the National Anthem and its significance, the same should suffice with the Constitution.

For his part, Mr Seabelo Moruti implored Batswana to note that the Constitution formed the basic structure upon which the nation was anchored and appealed for caution in reviewing it.

He said in the course of the review exercise, Batswana ought to be wary of effecting any changes that could weaken this structure.

Mr Keineetse Mmopi admitted that the Constitution having shone the light on Botswana’s path for over five decades was evidence that it was largely good and well-crafted.He noted nonetheless that a few amendments needed to be effected, among which he cited the need for the president to be directly elected by citizens.

Mr Mmopi also requested for the Constitution to guarantee the independence of the executive and the legislature.

He said with about 45 per cent of Members of Parliament forming cabinet, the two arms of government were not independent.

He noted that the nation should not shy away from the cost that guaranteeing the independence of the two arms would entail, which he said would likely result from the selection of cabinet ministers from outside the National Assembly.

“One could point to the possible resultant cost that this would entail and cite it as a stumbling-block. But the question then becomes; What monetary value can we attach to democracy?!” he asked, going on to explain how democracy was by nature costly.

He said no nation with a specific path that it aspired to follow should cower from bearing the cost of financing democracy within its shores. 

Giving a vote of thanks, Kgosi Gaselemogwe Molefi said Batswana seemed to be losing awareness on right or wrong.

Pointing out that the upward swing of grisly crimes such as murder and rape were proof of that, he requested for the law to provide for stringent forms of punishment for those found to have broken the law. BOPA