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.
‘When you make peace withyourself, you make peace with the world’- Maha GhosanandaThis may come at a huge cost if not handled properly. What started off on Labour Day in Letlhakane this year, where Boko was in attendance when the militant lawyer-cum-trade unionist, Robert Rabasimane rebutted the President’s address in defence of the trade union has seemingly spiralled out of control. The issue is now creating a cat-and-mouse type of a...