17 May 2022

Calls for the autonomy of the Batswapong and for the legalisation of polygamy formed the core of the issues that residents of Lerala and nearby villages raised before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Review of the Constitution on yesterday.

Laying the foundation for his subjects, Kgosi Sello Moroka of Lerala pleaded for the amendment of Sections 77-79 of the constitution, saying those provisions of law had not only fostered tribal inequality but had also impeded minority tribes from enjoying their place in society.

Kgosi Moroka told the commission that Batswapong no longer wanted to be subservient to Bangwato and wanted Tswapong declared a fully-fledged district.

“Ee, re itumetse thata ka fa Bagammangwato ba re godisitseng ka teng, ke tsaa gore re alogile jaanong.

Re batla gore kwa bofelelong jwa letsatsi le rona re bo re bona re le mo molao-motheong fela jaaka merafe e mengwe, e le tsela ya go fedisa dipharologanyo fa gare ga merafe e metona le merafe e mennye,” he said.

He said being recognised as a tribe in their own right would restore their pride and identity as a people.

“Re batla gore kwa bofelelong jwa letsatsi re kgone go akola ditso tsa rona, tlholego ya rona, le ngwao ya rona re se ka fa tlase ga morafe o mongwe jaaka go diragala mo sebakeng sa gompieno,” he stated.

Representing Goo-Tau, Mr Boswajwame Bakwena reiterated Kgosi Moroka’s call for the law to remove Batswapong from under Bangwato’s wing, noting that like the eight recognised tribes, their tribe equally deserved recognition.

Ms Rebaone Mongadi of Matlhakola noted how Batswapong’s recognition would spur on the region’s growth and development, and would bring about such developmental projects as a district council, which she proposed should be headquartered in Ramokgonami.

On an unrelated matter, Ms Mongadi called for the law to bar same-sex couples from adopting, saying having decided to go against the order of nature, they should not be allowed to enjoy the privilege of parenthood.

She further proposed for Botswana to be turned into a two-party democracy, arguing that the liberty to form political parties had flooded the political landscape with several players, a scenario that would likely confuse the voter and not necessarily add value to enriching the country’s democracy.

Sharing the perspective of Manaledi residents, their representative Ms Obakeng Samuel listed among their proposals their desire for polygamy, abortion, same-sex marriage and sex work to be legalised.

Lecheng representative Mr Lesego Gabaikitse similarly asked for polygamy to be made lawful and that it be limited to only two wives.

Further, he proposed for the law to consider setting a retirement age for politicians. Also advocating a two-wife polygamous setup, Ratholo representative Mr Mmoloki Motsie moreover requested for marriages to be dissolved by District Commissioners and not by the High Court.

He said it was improper for the office that had joined a couple in matrimony to be bypassed when the marriage disintegrated.

Mr Motsie proposed that as an additional requirement for eligibility for election as president, aspirants should have a minimum of P5 million, observing how lack of personal wealth could likely tempt the winner to become corrupt.

“Gore motho a nne tautona a seelo sa gagwe sa madi e nne P5 million go itsa tshenyetso setshaba, le dithoto tse a nang natso a di supe mo setshabeng,” he said. ENDS