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 The motion seeks to amend Section 32 and 35 of the Constitution to allow direct election of the president and to abolish automatic succession by the vice president to the presidency. In an interview with Mmegi yesterday, Magama stated that his motion calls for an election in the event that there is a vacancy at the top unlike the current situation where the vice president completes the term of a deceased, resigned or incapacitated president. He said the vice president should act for a specific period of time and then elections should be held for the presidency.
He explained that the elections are necessary because the president commands tremendous powers and it is critical that anybody who becomes president should enjoy public confidence by being subjected to the popular vote. He said the amendment would enhance Botswana’s democracy as it is in line with current international practices.
“We are not breaking any new ground. It is happening in southern Africa. In Botswana, the president commands immense powers. The president must be popularly elected,” he emphasised.
He took issue with the fact that in 1997, the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) amended the country’s Constitution to align it with its own in a move that did not augur well for democracy. He pointed out that his motion would be a test to members of the BDP. He said he is aware that some people would interpret the motion as a move aimed at thwarting Vice President Ian Khama’s sure march to the presidency. However, he said this is not true because the BNF has always maintained that the presidency should be contested. He proposed that an ideal situation would be to call an election for the presidency when the incumbent finishes his two terms. In the event of death of the president, the Vice President would act for, at most 90 days before an election could be called for the presidency. Magama’s motion comes at a time when a section of the BDP has questioned the usefulness of automatic succession. In the last Parliament, former BDP Member of Parliament for Kgalagadi, Lesedi Mothibamele, sought to bring a motion to abolish automatic succession. However, the motion never did not materialise because some BDP MPs did not agree with it. Others felt the motion was targeting Khama who is poised to automatically take over from President Festus Mogae. Former president and architect of automatic succession Sir Ketumile Masire has reacted to the debate by saying that “everything has its time and season”. Proponents of automatic succession argue that it ensures a smooth transition.
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