Africa-Press – Botswana. The next session of Parliament, scheduled to resume in a week’s time, is expected to discuss 93 recommendations submitted by the Commission of Inquiry on Constitutional Review following nationwide consultations.
Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane stated when addressing residents of Motlopi and Makalamabedi on Thursday that out of the 93 recommendations, 31 related to the Constitution, while 39 related to primary legislation and 23 related to policy making.
He noted that in considering the recommendations of the commission, government paid attention to whether the recommendations, if agreed to would preserve unity, peace and stability of the country.“The recommendations should also promote, adhere or enhance the rule of law and separation of powers as well as add to the adequacy of the Constitution in protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual” he said.
Outlining some of the recommendations, Mr Tsogwane said recommendation 64 stated that the rights of the people with disabilities should be enshrined in the Constitution to promote equal access, equal opportunity, participation and accommodation for people with disabilities.
He stated that recommendation on the Citizenship Act was that Botswana citizens who acquired citizenship of other countries should be allowed to hold dual citizenship.
“Government agreed with the recommendation and agreed that the prohibition for Batswana to hold dual citizenship unduly disadvantaged them,” he said.
Mr Tsogwane stated that recommendation 81 highlighted that persons holding dual citizenship should not be permitted to occupy offices of councilor, member of parliament, cabinet minister, vice president, president and judicial officers.
He said, on the other hand, recommendation 22 indicated that a retired President who had served an aggregate of 10 years must not return to active politics.
Recommendation 52 is that where the applicant dies before being allocated land, his or her rightful heirs should be allocated the deceased’s land.
Government, he said had agreed to enable the rightful heirs to access land expeditiously but noted that it should be on condition that the rightful heir did not own any tribal land.He indicated that recommendation 54 under Tribal Land Act recommended that Batswana should not be allowed to sell land allocated to them by land boards, but instead only lease it to non-citizens.
He said it had been noted that Batswana were dispossessed of their land by selling it, thereby enriching non-citizens who ended up owning large chunks of land.
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