‘Give us a chance to vote our own President’
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe - Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday February 14, 2022 06:00
The Presidential Commission of Enquiry into the Review of the Constitution led by former chief justice Maruping Dibotelo started its public consultation meetings in Tlokweng before proceeding to Ramotswa, Otse/Mogobane and Lobatse in the South East District this week.
Historically, these areas – except maybe for Ramotswa that previously exchanged between the BDP and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) – have been the opposition stronghold.
Opposition's Botswana National Front (BNF) has for years dominated the areas, a feat that changed in the past immediate elections. This showed that the Masisi-led government gained traction and had more admirers in the southern part of the country, probably because he is a southerner.
Interestingly, however, Maruping’s commission meetings have thus far seemingly reflected a possible fallout between the people in the southern part of the country and the Masisi-led government. Although it is still early into the commission's schedule, the common thread that appears in the meetings held thus far could reflect a 'rebellion' against the Masisi administration.
Different speakers at the meetings, including high profile names, have raised concerns against Masisi’s government. Some of the issues raised include those that Masisi’s party has oftentimes rejected either when brought up as motions in Parliament or just as comments during kgotla meetings.
During the ongoing meetings, people have spoken in unison that they are bothered by a government that is increasingly riddled with corruption and litanies of growing vices than virtues.
On Wednesday in Lobatse, residents echoed a similar sentiment that it is time for the Botswana Constitution to be inclusive of a direct presidential election. The recommendation was met with reverberating cheers and ululations.
Different speakers said they want to be allowed to vote for the President of their choice, unlike done in the current system whereby the president is indirectly elected.
Speaking during the Presidential Commission of Enquiry into the Review of the Constitution of the country, Moatlhodi Baaitse said: “Gone are the times when one automatically knows that if he/she is Vice President then they will become the next President. We must be given a chance to vote our own President as Batswana".
"Again, there must be a change in the clause of the Constitution to allow the President to sue and be sued.”
Bafo Manakwe believed if the President is elected directly by Batswana, then he or she will be accountable to the voters. “The system we are using to elect the President is old and other countries have long changed theirs. The President must be accountable to the nation not his/her party. Direct Presidential election will help us to even elect a President who does not belong to any political party. Again, the powers enjoyed by the President must be looked into or limited,” Manakwe said.
Another speaker, Thapelo Keabaitse shared similar sentiments that the President must be elected.
“The election of the President must be held on a different date from the ones for council and parliamentary seats so that the candidates for the presidency may be able to campaign for votes,” he said. Mmopiemang Selale said the President must have the power to choose his Vice President and also the Constitution must provide for the selection of cabinet ministers apart from the Members of Parliament.
“We also need a clause in the Constitution that gives the nation the power to recall the President, but there must be guidelines on that,” she said.
Contributing to the discussion on the issue of Presidential elections, Putuntu Molatlhegi said: “To avoid a scenario where the country might have many candidates for the presidential election, for one to be a candidate, she or he must be supported by 10,000 people failing to do so, one must be disqualified. The elections, just like for council and parliamentary candidates must be run by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). There must be certain qualification requirements also that is needed for one to be a suitable candidate.”
The area MP, Thapelo Matsheka supported issues raised by his constituents and said if an 18-year-old is eligible to vote such a person must be allowed to contest for the presidency as well.
“If I am not mistaken, for one to be eligible to contest for state presidency he or she must be 30 years and above. My question is, what are we scared of if we cannot allow those aged 18 to contest for the position at their age. Are we scared to be ruled by the young ones or not? It is time we look into things differently. A lot of things have changed from the way we used to know them,” Matsheka said.
On other issues, still related to calls for a presidential race, residents said certain qualifications must be a requisite for one to be a minister since a lot of things have changed unlike before. Thalaka Mothanka said: “We need educated ministers so that they are on the same level with their permanent secretaries when it comes to issues that are being discussed. One should not be appointed because he/she is loyal to a President. Ministers should be chosen by the President but they should not be MPs or councillors.”
Caroline Lesang also supported the notion that cabinet ministers must have certain qualification requirements and Parliament must have an input in helping the President to choose the ministers so that it is not his sole discretion. The residents pointed out that there must be a clause that gives the public power to recall a councillor or an MP who fails to deliver to his or her constituents so that fresh elections be called in that area.
While the government has oftentimes clashed with dikgosi and shown disdain towards the institution of Bogosi, the people have spoken in contrast to this. They want dikgosi to be given more powers.