UB don denies vacuum for State presidency

In an interview with Mmegi on Tuesday this week, Balule said section 36 of the Botswana Constitution gives the sitting President the power to appoint the acting President who could be a Minister but if he feels his illness cannot distract him from discharging his duties then powers go back to him.

“Currently the powers had gone back to the incumbent President since he had not evoked them. It means that there is no vacuum as many speculate,” Balule said.

Section 36 of Botswana Constitution reads, “whenever the President is absent from Botswana or considers it desirable to do so by reason of illness or any other cause he or she may, by directions in writing, authorise the Vice President, during any period when there is no Vice-President or the Vice-President is absent from Botswana or is, by reason of physical or mental infirmity, unable to perform the functions of his or her office, some Minister, to discharge such of the functions of the Office of President as he or she may specify, and the Vice-President or other Minister may discharge those functions until his or her authority is revoked by the President.”