16 May 2022

The proposal by some Batswana to have direct election of the president is a bomb waiting to explode, should the government accept it.

A representative of Palapye First Development Foundation said the reform would most likely divide the nation along tribal lines and ruin national cohesion.

Mr Thebe Johannes issued the warning during a kgotla meeting addressed by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Review of the Constitution yesterday in Palapye.

“We agree that the constitution should be reviewed, but we should be careful when it comes to certain issues, such as the direct election of the president, lest we lose our unity as a nation,” he said, adding the dispensation could easily allow people with ill motives to polarise the nation.

With regard to the vice president the foundation suggested he or she should not double as an MP for the person to be able to deliver.

“It is also our view that a councillor and Member of Parliament should hold a minimum Ordinary level (Form 5) certificate and a degree respectively,” he said.

He added the foundation was eager to see promulgation of a law that fostered polygamy.

Mr Johannes said his foundation believed the time had come for Botswana to allow dual citizenship.

Doing so, would help to develop a broad skills base, and therefore enable the country to attain high income status.

Mr Nhanhla Simon called for the immediate repeal of the Tati Concessions Land Act as it had proven to be an impediment to development in the North East and Botswana in general.

He also suggested the name Botswana should be changed to Central Southern Africa or The Interior of Southern Africa. Mr Simon said referring to natives as Batswana was wrong as not all citizens were of Tswana descent.

Another speaker, Mr Cedrick Molosiwa proposed that the qualifications for persons vying for political office should be reviewed. He also suggested that there should be a recall clause for political representatives who performed poorly.

He called for a law and ‘not just Corporate Social Responsibility” that would coerce mining companies to develop communities within which they conducted business.

Mr Lawrence Bodilenyane who said there was need to establish a constitutional court, also wanted thorough and transparent recruitment and appointment of judges and the chief justice.

He suggested that the Judicial Service Commission should facilitate the process and recommend names of best candidates, to the President as the appointing authority.

He said the time had come for councils to be autonomous, and called for an end to automatic of succession of the president. Ms Thompho Raditsebe called for creation of a ministerial post whose incumbent would solely be responsible for dealing with unemployment issues.

“A go nne le tona yo o tlaa bong a itebagantse le matshwenyego a batho ba ba sa berekeng jaaka rona,”she said. Mr Slow Kgamane said there for oversight institutions such as the DCEC and Ombudsman to be fully independent.

He also proposed that the counting of votes and announcement thereof should be done at polling stations. Mr Bafeile Ngombalome of Topisi said the constitution should recognise Village Development Committees because they were doing a good job in furthering the development of villages.

Kgosi Mogomotsi Marekwa of Kgagodi called for striking off of presidential immunity.

He also suggested that nomination of councillors and members of parliament should come to an end.

Mogapinyana representative, Ms Sophie Bafedile proposed a return of whipping on the back saying it would help to reduce wayward behaviour.

She also said the government must pay 50 per cent of the damage caused by wild animals to farmers’ crops. ENDS