12 Jun 2022

General elections should be held every ten years to allow the party in power adequate time to implement its roadmap.

The proposal formed part of those that Mabesekwa residents tendered before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Review of the Constitution at a consultative meeting held in Tonota Friday.

Their representative Ms Phoro Oduetse told the commission that the current five-year term was too short for the ruling party to have delivered on its promises hence the need for a longer term.

Pleading for the retention of the death penalty, Ms Oduetse further proposed that the form of punishment be also extended to rapists.

Mr Ratshimo Ramahobo of Tonota described Botswana’s constitution as well-rafted, therefore wholesome and quite solid.

For this reason, he said there was no need for its total overhaul, but rather that it should be tweaked as need may be.

“Molao-motheo wa Botswana o nonofile jaaka fa o dirilwe ke borraetsho, o batla go baakanngwa fale le fale fela.

Ga re kake ra o tlhantlhamolola jaaka okare re dira lefatshe le lesha,” he said, and cited among the minor changes that should be effected, his desire for the word ‘Bushmen’ to be replaced with ‘Basarwa’ in the Constitution.

Okaying the president’s election as provided for under Section 32 of the Constitution, the resident nevertheless proposed for political parties to nominate candidates for both the presidency and the vice presidency, who would then campaign as running mates.

Mr Shawn Kgokong asked for the law to make provision for the recall of poor performing councillors and Members of Parliament, and suggested that in any two-year period with their five years of office, if the performance of any of them was found wanting, he/she should immediately be recalled.

Seeking for the protection of Botswana’s currency through entrenchment in the constitution, a resident Mr Benjamin Muzunywa described as anomalous the fact that the Constitution was silent on the country’s currency.

“It is a grave error that the constitution makes no mention of our currency. This means that the currency is not at all protected,” he opined.

One Mr Oeme Tangane asked for the law to limit regency in bogosi to only when the heir was either still a minor or was in school, and that other than for those two reasons, no morafe should ever be placed under the leadership of a regent.

Kgosi Bokamoso Radipitse had earlier requested that in reviewing the Constitution, the core task should be to cement Botswana’ state of peace, which he said could among other things be ensured through the equal recognition as well as equal treatment of all tribes.

He summed up thus, “Thata thata ka re a molao-motheo wa lefatshe la Botswana o leke thata go aga kagiso mo gare ga merafe le ditshaba tsotlhe tse di mo lefatsheng le. Molao-motheo a e nne tsone diphuka tse di sireletsang Motswana mongwe le mongwe, le motho mongwe le mongwe.” ENDS