30 May 2022

Week 18 of the ongoing Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the review of the Constitution of Botswana began in earnest in Rakops on Monday with residents calling for 10 per cent royalties to mining towns and villages.

Said Mopipi village representative, Mr Justine Otimile: “Re ne re re mo di mining le mo makgadikgading di royalties tsa teng a re di neelwe rraetsho,” he proposed.

Although the people of Mopipi were content with sections three to nine which promote civil liberties, there were certain aspects of the document that did not sit well with them, said Mr Otimile.

He mentioned among others, tribal inequality and lack of their subdistrict’s lack of autonomy as among areas that needed to be changed forthwith.

Mr Otimile also said as Mopipi residents, they wanted to see any president who committed a crime or broke the law in any way prosecuted at the end of his/her term. Thus they called for an amendment of Section 41 of the constitution which proscribes prosecution of a sitting president.  

Mr Bonyere Jane of Mokoboxane said ithey wanted any person found in possession of human parts to be prosecuted.

“Polao ya batho lefatshe ka bophara e ile magoletsa lefatshe . A go tsene ka fa molao-motheo gore ope yo a fitlhwelwang ka serwe sa motho a bonwe molato,” he said.

He also called for scrapping of Section 41 of the constitution.

Earlier on in his welcome address, Kgosi Seane Tatolo of Rakops called for Section 10 sub section 2(d) to be expunged. The gives the right to defence for any person “before the court in person or, at his own expense, by a legal representative of his/her own choice.”

Kgosi Tatolo said the provision had rendered dikgosi powerless especially on pertinent matters such as those of stock theft.

To this end, Kgosi Tatolo submitted that criminal elements in particular cattle rustlers should be denied the option of legal representation at the magistrate court.

“Nna fa ke sa le ke tsena fa ke sekisitse kgetsi ele nngwe ya bogodu jwa leruo,” he said, meaning he only ever presided over one cattle rustling case as most are transferred to the magistrate’s court.

He said he believed Section 32, which talks  about appointment of the president following dissolution of parliament, should not be tampered with as it had worked well for the country.

Mr Elijah Motsamai of Xhumo wanted Boteti sub district to be turned into a fully-fledged district.

Calling for equality of merafe, he also proposed that Boteti should have a kgosi-kgolo.

On elections, Mr Motsamai said the people of Xhumo wanted introduction of Electronic Voter Machines (EVMs) to ensure smooth running of elections.

Another Speaker, Mr Maikutlo Kenosi of Kedia village said the constitution should prohib polygamy and same sex marriages.

She also submitted that the law must make the teaching and learning of Agriculture compulsory in all secondary schools.

Mr Tebogo Otsile of Xere and fellow residents wanted the constitution to dictate that both men and women should equally contribute towards bogadi.

“Re eletsa gape gore batho ba ba dirang melato e e maswe ba nne le letshwao la bone gore re kgone go ba lemoga mo setshabeng,” he said, as he called for physical branding of criminals for people to be able to avoid them.

Mr Justice Tshekiso proposed that dikgosi should be elected and should be people hardworkers with a high sense of responsibility.

Ms Ruth Manyuni said dikgosi should not meddle in politics and called on the constitution to bar them from taking part in the same. ENDS