Our Heritage

Sandy Grant | Thursday February 25, 2010 00:00

Were we serious about such matters, a Boipuso museum would long ago have been established in Gaborone which have explained for everyone, local, expats and tourists precisely how this country, set by step, attained its Independence in 1966.

Seemingly the idea has no appeal - which is about as baffling as it can get. But now that the Motswaledi affair, not least, has prompted so many doubts and criticisms about the current Constitution, with fairly wild ideas having been recently expressed about British deviousness in its formulation, and with reiterated calls for a total review, it may be the time to go back to the base documents to note, not least, who represented this country and thus supposedly made such a mess of things.

They were - Her Majesty's Commissioner, Mr. R. P. Fawcus, C.M.G., O.B.E. For the BDP, Mr. S. M. Khama, O.B.E., M.E.C., Mr. Q. K. J. Masire, M.L.C., Mr. M. P. K. Nwako. For the Bechuanaland People's Party. (Mr. Motsete's Party) Mr. K. T. Motsete, Mr. P. G. Matante. Mr. T. W. Motlhagodi. For the Bechuanaland People's Party.(Mr. Mpho's Party.

Mr. M. K. Mpho, Mr. B. D. Macheng. Mr. M. M. Tlale. For the Chiefs. Kgosi Bathoen II, C.B.E., M.E.C., Kgosi Mokgosi III, M.B.E., M.L.C. Kgosi Linchwe II. For the European Members of Legislative Council. Mr. D. J. C.

Morgan, M.E.C., Mr. J. G. Haskins, O.B.E., M.L.C., Mr. C. J. Mynhardt, M.L.C. As the Asian Member of Legislative Council. Mr. A. C. Chand, M.L.C. with the Official Advisers. Mr. A. J. A. Douglas, O.B.E., M.E.C. (Chief Secretary). Mr. A. G. Tilbury, O.B.E., M.E.C. (Attorney-General).

The two issues which have aroused so much recent public concern have been those of special election and Presidential immunity.

The latter issue gets no mention in this Constitution but special election is covered by para 38 and it may be well worth examining how this matter was originally understood and set out. Thus,quote, 'Specially Elected Members.

The specially elected Members should be elected by the Legislative Assembly in accordance with the following procedure. The Prime Minister should present to the Legislative Assembly his own list of four candidates (or such number of candidates as there were places to be filled).

Any Member of the Legislative Assembly should then be entitled to propose other names.

Finally, each Member of the Legislative Assembly should be entitled to vote by secret ballot for four persons (or such number of persons as there were places to be filled) on the list thus constituted. The qualifications and disqualifications for the specially elected Members should be the same as for the elected Members.' Unquote.