21 Aug 2022

Some Members of Parliament have suggested that the proposed four elected MP posts should be used to reduce the size of big constituencies.

Debating the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2022 on Thursday, the MPs argued that the sizes of many constituencies were too big hence they should be reduced because. 

They said the vastness of rural constituencies made service provision cumbersome to communities.

The bill, tabled on a certificate of urgency by Minister for State President, Mr Kabo Morwaeng on Wednesday, proposes the amendment of the Constitution by increasing the number of elected MPs from the current 57 to 61.

Mmadinare MP, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi said the four constituencies proposed by the bill were not enough. 

He said in addition to the four new posts of elected MPs, government should convert six posts of specially elected MPs to elected MPs. 

He said that would result in the creation of 10 new posts of elected MPs. He argued that specially elected MPs were no longer necessary since elected MPs possessed a variety of competencies. He also asked for the Mmadinare constituency to be divided into two to reduce its vastness.

“Mmadinare constituency is very broad. It sprawls from the area near Palapye up to the border between Botswana and Zimbabwe. Some of my councillors are in Palapye (sub-district) and others are in Bobonong (sub-district). We are also serviced by two different land boards. A constituency like that is unmanageable,” said the MP.

Mr Molebatsi said it was difficult to effectively represent people living in villages separated by 200 or 500 kilometres.

Tonota MP, Mr Pono Moatlhodi said the proposed four new constituencies should be used to reduce sizes of big constituencies.

“I support the bill proposed by Minister Morwaeng, and I therefore say it is not a priority for urban constituencies to be increased for they are abundantly flooded with all services that a developed constituency needs. I pray for the four slots to be availed to large rural constituencies,” said the MP.

Mr Moatlhodi said one of the constituencies that should be divided was Okavango constituency, which  he said was too big with tough terrain that made travelling between villages a nightmare.

He further called for MPs’ constituency allowances to be increased for big constituencies.

Mr Moatlhodi supported the proposal to increase the constituencies by four only, saying it was informed by financial constraints.

“It costs money to run a constituency. With the little that we have we should do more,” said the MP.

Nkange MP, Dr Never Tshabang, however, said the increase of four was too little. 

He said many constituency were too broad and needed to be reduced. He further said Nkange constituency had increased in population since it was established in 2002. 

He said the constituency should be realigned to reduce the workload on its MP.

He suggested that instead of going ahead with increasing the constituencies to four, the minister should wait for recommendations from the delimitation commission.

“I urge the minister to listen to the delimitation commission. The recommendations it brings from engaging with people because consultation is key. We cannot just decide as Parliament without considering recommendations from the delimitation commission,” said Dr Tshabang.

Mahalapye West MP, Mr David Tshere, however, opposed the bill, arguing that it was not clear what informed the proposal to increase constituencies by four. Mr Tshere said four was too little. ENDS