24 Jul 2022

The constitution should assure a sitting president of the state’s protection from persecution and/or prosecution once he/she has vacated office. 

Submitting the African Youth Parliament’s proposals to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Review of the Constitution on Friday, its representative Mr Baboloki Semele said such protection would ensure that the president discharged his/her functions freely, without fear of possible repercussions in the future. 

“The sitting president must be assured by the constitution that they will be protected by the state from persecution and prosecution event after retirement. This is to allow the president to govern and discharge his/her duties without fear for his/her life in the future,” he said. 

On a different matter, the African Youth Parliament also proposed for the criminalisation of funding of political parties by external sources, which it said would likely open up the country to undue foreign influence. 

Instead, it called for the introduction of political party funding to level the playing field for political parties. 

Still on politics, he said a set of incentives must be made available to political parties who fielded not less than 30 per cent of youth for seats being competed for at both council and parliamentary levels. 

The move, he said would prop up the country’s efforts to have youth to in decision-making positions. 

Mr Semele said their organisation also desired that a national youth parliament be established, the mandate of which would be to introduce them to as well as nurture them in political leadership. 

Further, he proposed that the elections day and the president’s inauguration day be entrenched in the constitution, and recommended that October 25 and April 1 be adopted for those specific purposes. 

He also suggested that the two dates be declared public holidays to allow citizens the opportunity to partake in the activities. 

The African Youth Parliament further wanted Botswana’s national symbols such as the Coat of Arms and the national anthem protected by the constitution, he sais In addition, he suggested that the constitution should be incorporated into the schools’ curriculum to promote Batswana’s understanding of it. In the end, Mr Semele said the constitution should make provision for citizens to propose for its amendment whenever they deemed that there was need for such. 

“There should be provision in the constitution that any citizen of mature age and sound mind may propose an amendment to the constitution of Botswana by writing to the Permanent Secretary to the President,” he said. Ends