13 Jul 2022

 Wanton killing of people especially young children by heartless people for ritual purposes calls for stringent laws, says Mr Peter Motsemme of Gaborone South.

 He said, when making his submissions during the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Review of the Constitution on Tuesday at Urban Customary court in Gaborone that legislating against this heinous act remained the primary solution.

“Ke kopa ka boikokobetso mo pusong ya rona gore go tsenngwe tsetlana mo molao-motheo gore boraboko ba tshwarwe ba re bolaela bana. Nna ga ke ise ke utlwe gotwe raboko o tshwerwe e bile o atlholetswe leso jaaka batho ba bangwe ba ntse ba atlholelwa leso.

A molao o re sireletse ka go tshwana ka ebile batho ba ba bolaya ka maikaelelo gore ba ntshe dinnanne mo bathong,” he said, to much applause. On empowerment of women and People with Disabilities (PWDs), Ms Christine Motshidisi prayed specific legislation to ensure they are adequately represented in all decision-making positions and within the public service.

 Ms Motshidisi also suggested action should be taken against parents who failed to enrol their minor children in school.

She also called for equality of all tribes. “Fa re batla tshwaragano mo lefatsheng la rona re tshwanetse ra lemoga merafe ka go farologana e seng e e robangbongwe fela jaaka go ntse mo nakong eno. Merafe e mengwe e e sa lemogiweng ga tweng ka yone? Motswana mongwe le mongwe o tshwanetse a kanole sehuba a bo a ikutlwe ele karolo ya setšhaba sa Botswana ebile dipuo tsotlhe di tshwanetse tsa buiwa semmuso,” she said. Her other proposal was for introduction of political funding, which she said would further enhance the country’s democracy.

 Mr Molebatsi Mokakapadi who spoke on behalf of Naledi South residents rendered the following; that senior citizen age should be lowered at 60. She also called for reinstatement of corporal punishment at school and that DNA testing should be mandatory at child birth. Ms Kelebogile Makone of Sekgwa ward in White City complained that the freehold land regimen gave foreigners land for 999 years. With regard to applicants for plots who died while awaiting allocation, Ms Makone said their applications should devolve to children.

Mr Boitshoko Monare of Babusi ward said position of Chairman of Ntlo ya dikgosi should be an alternating one.

 “A bodula-setilo jwa Ntlo ya dikgosi bo fapaanelwe,” he said. He also proposed that the law should ensure the national anthem was written and sung in other languages existing in Botswana. He also suggested dikgosi should be provided with official vehicles for their day-to-day official engagements. Like many other Batswana,

Mr John Matsheng of Bontleng said councils should be autonomous and Chairpersons and Town Clerk be given executive powers.

A young person, Mr Karabo Simba complained that that learners in Botswana had too many subjects. He proposed the constitution should prescribe a maximum of five subjects at secondary school, four of which should be compulsory. “A re fokolediwe morwalo,” he pleaded, arguing the bulk of the subjects they studied had no bearing on their career choices. Another youth

, Ms Keitumetse Ramoleele the allowance given to tertiary education students was too meagre considering the prevailing economic situation. She said the little allowance had led some students to to prostitution and crime as they tried to augment the allowance.

Mr Kitso Olebile expressed his displeasure at what he said was first rate treatment for inmates at Botswana Prisons, saying it was the reason recidivism was high. Harsher penalties would ensure they thought twice before committing crime again.  ENDS