Africa-Press – Botswana. Members of Parliament have on Tuesday concluded debates on the Constitution Amendment Bill of 2024 which was before the National Assembly on May 20 for second reading.
Last to contribute to the debates was Boteti West MP, also Leader of the House, Mr Slumber Tsogwane who assured Parliament that some proposed amendment clauses, if not agreed to at committee stage, would be referred to the public in a form of a referendum before it was finalised.
Mr Tsogwane told MPs that the Constitutional review exercise, was a mammoth and sensitive task that needed to be deliberated on responsibly and with sober minds.
He added that due process was followed throughout the entire Constitutional review exercise, saying in accordance with Section 2 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi appointed the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Review of the Constitution of Botswana which he tasked to hold extensive consultative meetings with Batswana in all the 57 constituencies across the country.
He said from the beginning, President Masisi had explained and made it clear that the exercise was the first wholesome inquiry into the review of the Botswana Constitution, hence the many recommendations from Batswana.
He said during the meetings, Batswana were afforded an opportunity to voice their views about what they desired to be reviewed in the Constitution.
Again, he said, after considering submissions from Batswana, a comprehensive report was compiled, submitted to the President and later made public.
The report, he said, was also published in the Government Gazette for the right period to afford Batswana enough time to give feedback. “Anything that Parliament will not agree on in this Bill at Committee Stage would be taken back to Batswana for their views and contribution,” he added.
He therefore thanked the commission for having carried out the mandate they were tasked with responsibly.
He also thanked Batswana for participating in the national exercise and affording it the attention and seriousness it deserved through their diverse submissions, which he said, formed part of the recommendations that the Commission considered when compiling the report.
Earlier in her contribution, Specially Elected MP, Ms Peggy Serame supported the Bill, particularly the clause seeking to increase the number of Specially Elected MPs to 10.
“This is a positive dispensation that would afford more women, youth, people living with disabilities and vulnerable and disadvantaged groups to be included in Parliament,” Ms Serame said.
She had also encouraged MPs to ensure their contributions during the debate were meaningful, saying they should freely correct where necessary and allow the clauses that Parliament agrees on to be passed and those not agreed on to be further referred to a referendum.
In another issue, Ms Serame, like others, said she believed that MPs, as people’s representatives, should not be recalled by Parliament for misbehaviour without the say of their constituents.
“We need to look into this and see how constituents could also have a say on the recalling of MPs for misbehaviour,” she added.
She highlighted the need to ensure that Batswana were not left behind, but be taken aboard in every step of the whole Constitutional review process.
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