13 Nov 2022

Member of Parliament for Thamaga/Kumakwane, Mr Palelo Motaosane says the Delimitation Commission needs to consider population and territorial boundaries in forming constituencies because Botswana is diverse.

Making submissions before the Delimitation Commission in Thamaga recently, Mr Motaosane said the constituency should not be demarcated. Instead, he said Mosokotswe village should fall under Molepolole because residents accessed services in the constituency.

Meanwhile, Section 63 of the Constitution states that Botswana should be divided into constituencies and each constituency should have one representative at Parliament. However, a Delimitation Commission has to be formed in a period of five to 10 years.

On behalf of Kotolaname residents, Mr Oneetse Motanka said Mosokotswe should be demarcated from Thamaga-Kumakwane constituency, saying poor road linking the village with Thamaga made it difficult for the residents to access services.

Councillor Mmolotsi Phatsime of Kubung Ward, however said demarcating Mosokotswe from Thamaga/Kumakwane constituency would have negative impact in terms of population therefore the constituency should remain as it was.

“Looking at the population density when demarcating constituency is backward and the commission should consider that where ever people stay and gather in large numbers services should be improved,” he said.

Sharing the same sentiments, Mr Skhidza Moshaba said the number of people needed to form a constituency would be affected should the village be demarcated.

Kgosi Lenyetse Moshaba of Gakagatla proposed that Mosebosebo village be demarcated from Manoko and added to Thamaga/Kumakwane constituency to avoid residents travelling a long distance to access services.

Sharing their concerns, Moswaneng residents said their village was near Thamaga but they were under Letlhakeng Constituency. Therefore they proposed that they should be added to Thamaga/Kumakwane constituency.

On one hand, Thamaga residents proposed that Kumakwane should not be removed from their constituency as they depended on it. ENDS