The quest for a transformative People’s Constitution (Part 1)
Friday, July 19, 2024 | 210 Views |
Speaking out: Dingake PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO
It is convenient to start this conversation from the 1st of December 2021. In December 2021 his Excellency the President of Botswana, acting in terms of the empowering provisions of the Commission of Inquiries Act established a Constitutional Review Commission led by my brother, former Chief Justice Dibotelo. The Commission was given 9 months to undertake its work and submit a report to the President which it did.
The model of revising the constitution was to invoke the Commission of Inquiries Act, which was not the best approach having regard to international best practice. This is so because under the said Act the Commission is appointed by the President alone. The Commissioners are appointed by the President alone. The Terms of Reference for the Commission are also the sole prerogative of the President.
It is not uncommon in this part of the world for parents to actually punish their children when they show signs of depression associating it with issues of indiscipline, and as a result, the poor child will be lashed or given some kind of punishment. We have had many suicide cases in the country and sadly some of the cases included children and young adults. We need to start looking into issues of mental health with the seriousness it...