Seeking solutions needs sober minds- VP
30 Nov 2023
Seeking solutions to the issue of missing people, who are often found murdered needs to be handled with sober minds and consideration given to affected families.
This was said by the Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane when contributing to an urgent motion by the Member of Parliament for Molepolole North, Mr Oabile Regoeng on Wednesday.
The motion called on government to swiftly put in place measures to curb incidents of people reported missing and later found dead or never found.
“As legislators we have a moral responsibility, as does the whole nation, to find solutions to this societal ill. It is a sensitive issue that we should not politicise,” he said.
Mr Tsogwane therefore, called on legislators as lawmakers, to look into the shortcomings of the constitution and suggest how it could be beefed up to address the issue. “It is our responsibility to the society as Parliament and we can better deliberate on it without finger-pointing,” he said.
Mr Tsogwane also said government was taking seriously issues associated with ritual murders and was taking measures, citing the amendment of the constitution to make possession of human body parts an offence.
Mr Tsogwane also thanked President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi for condemnation of the issue in his recent kgotla meetings.
For his part, Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse said the issue of missing people had been a problem from yore.
He said just last year, 391 people were murdered while this year, 215 had already been murdered. “Government should therefore treat issues of missing people seriously, otherwise it will lead to vigilantism, where the community takes the matter into its own hands because it would feel law enforcement was not doing enough,” he said.
Mr Keorapetse also advised government to have a clear position on the issue of ritual murders. He said a specialised police unit for such matters had been requested as long back as 2007.
For his part, Chobe legislator, who is also the Minister of Justice, Mr Machana Shamukuni said during the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of gender-based violence escalated, and his ministry established special courts with dedicated magistrates to expedite the cases to success.
“We will consider a similar dispensation for cases of missing people. During this Parliament session, we are also expecting a motion calling for non-bail to murder suspects to be debated, and we hope that legislators will support it,” he said. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : Olekantse Sennamose
Location : GABORONE
Event : PARLIAMENT
Date : 30 Nov 2023