04 Jul 2022

An advisory committee comprising former presidents, dikgosi and legal fraternity representatives should be formed to support a sitting president. 

With their experience and extensive knowledge on governance, former presidents were better placed to give a  sitting president guidance and support, an Itholoke representative has told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Review of the Constitution.

Making a submission on behalf of Itholoke residents during a consultative meeting in Mabutsane yesterday, Mr Otlaadisa Setlalo explained later in an interview that the complexity of presidential work necessitated that the incumbent be afforded all the support he/she needed.

 “Former presidents have a wealth of experience that can still benefit an incumbent president and by extension the nation itself. The law should therefore enjoin the president to tap into this knowledge and experience,” he said. 

He said the proposed committee would contribute greatly to the success of a presidential tenure.

 In another proposal, Mr Setlalo said adoption laws should be made the purview of dikgosi because current processes as provided for under common law were long-winded. 

Since dikgosi knew people within their jurisdictions better, they were well placed to match potential adoptive parents with minors available for adoption, he said.

According to Mr Setlalo,  Itholoke residents also desired to see  women permitted by law to pay lobola. 

“O kgona go fitlhela ke nna le mosadi yo o nang le dithata, jaanong fa go ntse jalo a molao o letle go re a nnyale. (The law should allow for payment of ‘groom price’ in situations where a woman had the capacity to do so.)

 On whether the man would be regarded as head of the family in such a setup, Mr Setlalo said the  importance of marriage overrode all other things.

Representing residents of Kokong, Mr Kegomoditswe Mosupi countered calls from some quarters for the country’s name to be changed allegedly because it was discriminatory. 

“We want this country to retain its name. In addition to that; our Coat of Arms, the national motto ‘Pula’, the flag and the National Anthem should be enshrined under Chapter 1 of the constitution,” he said. 

Mr Mosupi said Kokong residents believed that once the national symbols were protected by law, Botswana’s international identity would stand out. 

He also requested that Botswana’s national values be spelled out and protected in the constitution. 

The values should be in sync with the RESET Agenda ideals, he said.

From Keng, Ms Dimakatso Lekgotla called for direct election of both the president and his/her vice. 

She proposed that in the tussle for the presidency, the candidate with the second highest number of votes should assume the position of vice president. 

On another issue, Ms Lekgotla said the country should be resolute in its efforts to introduce mother-tongue instruction in schools. 

She proposed that teacher-training institutions introduce one indigenous language at a time to equip teachers who would then be deployed to regions where the specific languages were spoken. 

Some speakers asked for reforms in Ntlo ya Dikgosi among them a change of name for the house. 

A Khakhea representative, Mr Thuto Balemoge, proposed that the house be renamed house of traditional representatives.

In addition, he said tribal territories should be done away with.

 Mabutsane’s Mr Motlhatlhedi Motokwane suggested on behalf of fellow residents that a constituency house of representatives, which would be responsible for selection of Ntlo ya Dikgosi representatives,  be established. ends