07 Jul 2022

 The Delimitation Commission has learnt, during yesterday’s consultative meeting in Rakops, that there is need for the formation of a third constituency in Boteti.

Boteti constituency is currently divided into two, Boteti East and Boteti West.

The people of Boteti now want another constituency named Boteti Central, given the vastness of the region.

Presenting before the commission, Mr Babone Mosesane of Rakops said the community would want the new constituency to comprise villages such as Orapa, Mosu, Mmatshumo, Makgaba, Mokubilo and Mmea.

Advancing his reasons, Mr Mosesane said residents of Mmea, Mokubilo and Makgaba were mostly Basarwa, adding that such people were the ones who needed services the most, saying having their own constituency would mean more developments, resulting in access to more services.

He also suggested that Mokubilo and Mmea be brought back to Boteti from Tati East because originally, they were under Boteti and still accessed services in Boteti.

As for Boteti West, Mr Mosesane said they would want it to retain its villages except for Orapa that should be moved to form part of Boteti Central, given its large population.

He said as residents of Boteti, they desired for Phuduhudu to be part of Boteti not Ngami because people of Phuduhudu were serviced by Boteti.

Mr Bugalo Manyoni concurred and added that Boteti was too broad for two constituencies.

He also noted that such villages as Moiyabana, Malatswai and Mogorosi were originally under Boteti, not Serowe, hence they should return.

Furthermore, Mr Manyoni said sometimes tribal territories and administrative districts should inform delimitation, not the numbers.

One Ms Cecilia Njavera of Toromoja supported the idea of moving Orapa to the aspired Boteti Central because of its large population.

For his part, Mr Lawrence Nkisang suggested that Boteti East retain its villages except Mmatshumo, which should form part of the new constituency.

He added that factors such as vastness, language and culture should be among those that automatically determine the formation of a new constituency even when the stipulated numbers were low.

Mr Bathusi Kutoro of Motopi was of the view that Boteti West be left as it was, except for Rakops, which he suggested should be moved to the aspired Boteti Central to add to the numbers.

One of the members of the Delimitation Commission, Ms Elizabeth Masire said Parliament was yet to reach a consensus whether there was need for the increase of Parliamentary constituencies or not.

She noted that population census was one of the major factors that had always informed the delimitation process. ENDS