Parties Warned Against Hijacking Constitutional Review

Different speakers during the launch of the constitutional review position paper developed by the Botswana Federation of Public, Private and Parastatal Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) and Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) warned that the process of constitution review could turn rough, highly contested and end up leaving the vulnerable compromised if it is not conducted with integrity. The launch of the paper was held at Oasis Motel on Friday morning. BOFEPUSU president, Johannes Tshukudu said the constitutional review should be treated as a national, not a partisan project.

Tshukudu said because President Mokgweetsi Masisi made the pronouncement that the country will embark on a constitutional review, there is already a feeling among the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) members that this is “their project”. He said the delays by the government to start the process brings into question the commitment on the part of the ruling party to embark on the review. “Minister Morwaeng has been asked about this in the past and it is difficult for him to come up with clear time frames for this exercise,” Tshukudu said.