The Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Minister told Parliament on Friday that it is impossible to translate law into Setswana. She explained that Setswana is very difficult but the language used in law documents is even worse. Nasha made the remarks in Parliament when commenting on a motion tabled by the MP for Mogoditshane, Patrick Masimolole. The Mogoditshane legislator wants government to translate the Constitution of Botswana into Setswana for easier understanding by Batswana and to avail pocket size copies. The motion calls on the government to provide layman language drafts of other laws like the Penal Code, which is used daily by Customary Courts.
But Nasha said that the status quo should be maintained because there is no need for a Setswana version of the Constitution.
The MP for Kgatleng East, Isaac Mabiletsa, said Masimolole's motion is good but is likely to be shelved if government does not see its importance. He therefore called for the establishment of a body charged with the responsibility of implementing resolutions of Parliament. He said that currently, the government acts on parliamentary resolutions selectively. He stated that the cabinet only implements resolutions that suit government.
He said that the current practice is not good for Botswana's democracy because it denies citizens services that their MPs have suggested to those in power. He stated that a recent motion to increase the number of specially elected MPs from four to eight was implemented in haste because those in power knew that they were going to benefit from it. Mabiletsa asserted that so far, government has declined to implement motions that require MPs to declare their assets and interests; the live broadcast of parliamentary debates on national radio and TV, all of which Parliament adopted a few years ago. He said it took at least eight years for government to start employing female soldiers after Lobatse MP Nehemiah Modubule successfully tabled a motion to that effect in Parliament.
However, Letlhakeng East MP, Gordon Mokgwathi, said he supported Masimolole's motion but called for promotion of other indigenous languages. He warned that if the Setswana Constitution is simplified for the layman, as requested by the motion, it could distort the meaning of the original English version. Filbert Nagafela of Letlhakeng West, accused the government of clinging to colonial practices as if Batswana cannot think for themselves.
Two years ago, Nagafela said that the Speaker and judges of the High Court look like cartoons in their cream white headgear (wigs). He said that even if it is believed that Setswana is difficult, something should be done to translate the Constitution into the language. He added that government should not find it difficult to produce a pocket size handbook of the Constitution. Ngwaketse West MP, Mephato Reatile supported the motion and called for the Constitution to be simplified. Former minister, Charles Tibone, said he saw no harm in the fact that the Constitution has not been translated into Setswana. He said that it will take years for Parliament's Hansard to be printed after a recent resolution that it should be produced in both Setswana and English language.
