29 Jun 2022

Maun qualifies for an additional constituency considering its vastness and other factors such as its geography.

Maun East residents said this when making submissions before the Delimitation Commission in Shorobe Tuesday.

They unanimously called for creation of a third constituency, which they want named Maun North.

They argued that creation of the constituency would go a long way toward improving service delivery.

The proposed constituency, they said, would comprise some villages with community of interest from both Maun East and West constituencies.

It would hive off of Maun East, Disana, Matlapana, Thamalakane North, Shorobe, Xakanaka, Sankoyo, Sexaxa, Mababe and Khwai.

From Maun West the new constituency would take Sedie, Sennonori/Boro ward and part of Bojanala ward covering settlements of Ditshiping, Xuuxana and Daunara respectively.

Residents argued that the current constituency demarcation made it difficult for MPs to effectively do their work as the terrain was vast, with generally poor roads and communication infrastructure.

While they acknowledged the primary consideration should be that the number of inhabitants of each constituency should at least be close to the population quota in accordance with Section 65 (2) of the constitution, residents argued that other factors should also be acknowledged.

Kgosi Gokgathang Moalosi of Sankoyo said there was compelling need to re-align Maun constituencies because of inaccessibility of some of their villages and settlements.

He concurred geographical features such as heavy sand, and absence of road network made it exceedingly difficult for MPs to visit some areas in their constituencies.

Kgosi Moalosi added that the just ended national population census had shown the population of Maun village had increased drastically.

While the numbers did not qualify the area for an additional constituency, there was justification for its creation.

“You should carefully consider our submissions and not only focus on population quota when making your final decision.

You should consider important issues such as communities’ lifestyle,” he said.

The Kgosi submitted some communities were traditionally livestock farmers, while others relied on natural resources, especially those residing in areas proximate to the Okavango Delta, so it was necessary to also take their lifestyles into consideration.

Shorobe/Sankoyo area councillor, Mr Oabile Chombo also supported creation of a new constituency for the reasons already provided.

Commission chairperson, Justice Mokwadi Gabanagae assured residents that the commission was independent.

The commission has embarked on a countrywide tour consulting Batswana on delimitation of constituencies. ENDS