BDP majority frustrates change

Far from it, this is how best one can wrap up the ruling Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) disposition with respect to the views and motions from political rivals. In all fairness to the current generation of BDP legislators, this disposition is not new. It is part and parcel of the party’s cultural heritage that past generations bequeathed on the present.

The BDP-dominated Parliament is an impotent institution severely curtailed by an overbearing Executive. The doctrine of separation of powers exists on paper but in reality is not working. The opposition is relentless in its demand for constitutional reforms to beef up the doctrine of separation of powers. Welheminah Maswabi case proved how less independent the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) is. Justice Zein Kebonang had this to say in a recent judgement, “despite the doctrine of separation of powers, the position of DPP is however, not insulated from Executive authority or oversight. In terms of section 112(2) of the Constitution, the President’s power to appoint the DPP also extends to removing him from office.”