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.
‘The strongest bond of human sympathy outside the family relation should be one uniting working people of all nations and tongues and kindreds’.- Abraham LincolnUntil then, the Council’s operations remain suspended, delaying critical decisions affecting thousands of public sector employees.The current standoff is between the Manual Workers Union on one side and the Six Cooperating Trade Unions, namely BONU, BOPEU, BTU, BDU, BOSETU and...