Africa-Press – Botswana. Legislators have been warned against selective reading of the report on the Constitution as this formed biased impressions and omission of some important information about the Constitution Amendment Bill of 2024 before Parliament.
Specially elected MP, Ms Boitumelo Gofhamodimo, said during the debate on the Amendment Bill on Tuesday, that selective reading and comprehension of some subsidiary clauses in the Constitution showed that some colleagues did not read thoroughly.
“Let us read before we criticise because most of the concerns brought here are in the subsidiary clauses that explain most of them. The intention is to summarise the gist of what was being said during the countywide consultations by the commission and most of the submissions from Batswana were captured by the report except one or two issues,” she said.
Ms Gofhamodimo said having carefully listened to the debate, it was clear that some members were not happy that the consultation exercise was not comprehensive.
She added that the idea was not to overhaul the entire Constitution, but to review it. Ms Gofhamodimo however, said she acknowledged that some of the submissions that members wished for, were not captured the way they had wanted, but the report was generally synthesised.
She called for accountability, saying some sentiments that suggested that right processes were not followed were misleading. She said the commission was given terms of reference and it was sanctioned under the Commission of Inquiries of Act.
“It is about time to realise that the Constitution review exercise is ripe because some of the laws are outdated, hence the only law that allows for the inquiry is the very one that is available,” she said.
Ms Gofhamodimo, also Assistant Minister for State President, called on the opposition to form collective reasoning as a form of rationale they may all apply in a public debate for them to make sense.
“For example Honourable Moswaane did not speak against appointment of SEMPs, but he suggested that the opposition should have a stake because 10 is such a big number,” she said.
She also clarified that the referendum would not be conducted soon after the Bill, but would be carried out sometimes after the general elections.
Moshupa MP, Mr Karabo Gare, called on legislators not to mislead Batswana by suggesting that the Constitution review was done falsely. Mr Gare applauded the proposed clause that called for enshrining rights to health, work, education and collective bargaining as a progressive move that would keep government on her toes to avail budget for fulfilling such rights.
“I am happy that this Constitution empowers Batswana to freely deliberate on fulfilment of such rights,’ he said.
He said the introduction of measures to ensure that a retired president who had served an aggregate period of 10 years was not eligible for election in any political office was meant to avoid undue influence by former presidents. He said he supported the enhancement of governance structures, accountability and efficiency within government.
Mr Gare also backed the introduction of the clause that provided for transitional arrangements for the orderly transfer of executive power following the dissolution of Parliament and at the end of the term of office of the President.
He said appointment of SEMPs was meant for inclusivity and diversity of ideas so that diverse voices to contribute to national discourse.
He supported the clause that sought to ensure balanced distribution of authority within government and avoidance of over concentration of power, adding assessment and recommendation of officers to be appointed for judicial posts would be done transparently.
He was also happy that the report covered a broad spectrum of issues including accountability issues by the three arms of government and further addressed issues relating to a presidential transition law to guide the handing over of the presidential baton.
dailynews
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
