Moupo speaks against automatic succession

| Thursday April 3, 2008 00:00

General Khama is the second President to assume the Presidency in terms of the Amended Section 35(i) of the Constitution in terms of which the Vice President automatically succeeds the President when the latter retires, dies or becomes in any way incapable of exercising the functions of the President.

We as the BNF reiterate our opposition to the principle of automatic succession to the Presidency for the following reasons;

* It denies the people the right to elect their own leader, and therefore does not promote democratic principles

* By giving the President the power to determine who is going to succeed him in the high office, it gives too much power to one individual and is therefore undemocratic

* It stifles competition and ambition

Botswana prides itself as one of the foremost democracies in Africa. In order to maintain this enviable record, we have to constantly nurture, develop and renew our democracy to make it richer in content. In this regard, we must discard every practice, which undermines democratic values or is inconsistent with the best democratic traditions. We shall continue to agitate for democratic reforms, inc1udilng among others, the introduction of direct election of the President and funding of political parties by Government.

Otsweletse Moupo
BNF President