07 Jun 2022

The ongoing review of the constitution should take cognizance of the Setswana culture and some of the values that Batswana cherish such as the principle of Botho.

Leaving in a global village,  according to Kgosi Eric Moipolai of Matsiloje, called on Batswana to be watchful and make sure that they are not swallowed hook, line, and sinker by the so-called globalisation in the crafting of the constitution.

“A molao-motheo wa rona o supe gore Motswana ke motho yo o akanyang jang kana yo setho sa gagwe se ntseng jang, Botho e le konokono,” he said.

Kgosi Moipolai issued this warning during a consultative meeting by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Review of the Constitution of Botswana in Matsiloje yesterday.

He said, for instance, the insistence by some pressure groups to be given unfettered rights without matching responsibilities was one area that needed to be trodden upon with care to avoid pitfalls.

On others, Kgosi Moipolai conveyed reservations on the composition of Ntlo ya dikgosi, which he believed undermined the very existence of the House.

He said oftentimes junior dikgosi made it to the Ntlo ya Dikgosi through elections, leaving behind their seniors, something he argued deviated from Setswana norms and culture, therefore needing rectification.

Matsiloje representative, Mr Peter Maswe told the commission that it was the desire of fellow residents to have yet another supreme court that would lord over the Court of Appeal.

“Re eletsa gore go ka nna le court e nngwe ha godimo ga Court of Appeal,” he said, adding also that time was ripe for Botswana to jump on the bandwagon and make sure that the recruitment of the Chief Justice was conducted in a transparent manner, where all the aspirants vying for the position would be interview openly for all to see.

The people of Matshelagabedi, according to Mr Markson Markson wanted the supreme law of the land to strive for equality among tribes and foster the use of all existing languages at schools.

“Re batla gape gore molao-motheo o rutiwe bana kwa dikolong,” he said. Speaking on behalf of the Matopi populace, Mr Moesi Likuni wanted dikgosi to be part and parcel of land allocation and that the constitution should dictate that everyone should be given land the moment they attained 18 years.

He suggested further that those nominated to either council or Parliament should not be given any added responsibility, let alone be allowed to vote.

Like Kgosi Moipolai, the people of Matopi would like the review exercise to be conducted with the highest care and keep at bay anything that could spark row.

Shashe Bridge representative, Mr Oaul Khaje relayed fellow residents’ desire to have Bogadi invalidated, arguing it was the reason many couples were cohabiting.

Also, Mr Khaje shared that the people of Shashe Bridge wanted the constitution to state categorically that those nominated to councils and Parliament would forgo the right to vote in their execution of duty.

Mr Diamond Diamond prayed for the abolition of the legislation that gave some people absolute rights over huge chunks of land at the expense of countless Batswana who have got no land to call their own.

He cited the Tati concession as among many such agreements that needed to be reviewed and that the envisaged constitution should be crafted with an element of a time frame in mind so that land use be shared equally among Batswana.

Ms Florah Mpetsane’s wish is to see the snowball effects of mining activities to positively touch the lives of people leaving within the periphery of mining towns.

She also wanted the law to show leniency as far as abortion was concerned.

Ms Mpetsane told the commissioners that if given the green light, lawful abortion could help preserve the precious lives of some women whom she said engaged in illegal and often fatal backyard abortions.

Ms Nkunyane Mokopanele demanded that drug peddlers be subjected to capital punishment  due to the enormity of the damage their trade had caused to the nation in particular the youth.

“Batho ba ba rekisang ditagi le bone ba tshwanetse ba kalediwa. Gompieno jaana bana ba kgautlhane,” she said.

During the interest groups session, Moruti Peter Maswe wanted the church to have representation in Parliament.  ENDS