But Botswana's sole independent lawmaker later found himself at odds with the Office of the President when the Minister of Justice defended the controversial phenomenon in Kgatleng as falling within the ambit of the constitution. So did the two MPs from Kgatleng, Isaac Mabiletsa of Kgatleng West (BNF) and Gilbert Mangole of Kgatleng East (BDP), who became unlikely bedfellows over the floggings. However, Modubule maintained that the law of the land should be followed equally by all and that no individual or tribe should place themselves above it.
He said the floggings made him "uncomfortable," especially since the Minister of Justice, Defence and Security Ramadeluka Seretse had been silent on the matter. The government should make its position clear on the matter if it should avoid being accused of complicity, he added. Taking a divergent view, the MP for Francistown West Tshelang Masisi said floggings were "the traditional and shortest way" of bringing order to "unruly characters" and that the Kgatleng example was worthy of being emulated.
