The President's Retirement Benefits Amendment Bill No. 12 of 2024 and other controversial Bills have formally been withdrawn from Parliament.
The withdrawal was made by the Minister for State President, Kabo Morwaeng on Friday, five days after his surprise announcement of the removals on national television. The decision by the minister followed intense public pressure from Batswana, who labelled the Bill(s) as a 'greedy' and a clear intention to benefit the powerful only at the expense of ordinary citizens, and a planned demonstration. The proposed amendment, which would have significantly increased the retirement benefits for the President, had ignited a firestorm of controversy across the nation. Many Batswana, already grappling with economic hardships, viewed the Bill as a glaring symbol of inequality and an affront to the principles of fairness and justice that are central to Botswana's democratic ethos. Following his announcement on Btv, the withdrawal was not formally made and this was also confirmed by Speaker of the National Assembly Phandu Skelemani in Parliament early this week.
Morwaeng further admitted that there has been a lot of feedback on the Bills from the public and civil society. "As much as we have the constitutional mandate to make laws in this Parliament, we are also required to consult. It is the people who elected us and whom we represent in this assembly, that we are obliged to listen to," he stated in Parliament. "As a country that respects, upholds and adheres to the rule of law, it is critical that we discharge our mandate in line with the oath of this noble office, the oath of allegiance as required of us by the Constitution." Morwaneg added it was necessary that "we pause and allow" for further consultations to appreciate the views of the people of Botswana in relation to this matters. "In the public interest and as a consultative and listening government, we have to listen to the people," he further said in Parliament when officially withdrawing the Bill.
The withdrawal of the Bill serves as a powerful reminder on the importance of transparency, accountability, and the rule of law in preserving Botswana's democratic foundations. For many, this episode will be remembered as a pivotal moment when the people stood up to defend their rights and the integrity of their nation's governance.
