Let There Be A Limitation Clause

Some time last year there was a legal case involving the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) president who is also the state president and a prominent BDP functionary in which the latter took the BDP and the state president to court.

The applicant amongst other things wanted the courts to reverse his suspension from the party, which disqualified him from representing the party during national elections. He was the party's parliamentary candidate before he got suspended. Besides the collateral damage where the applicant's prospect of a parliamentary seat were shattered, this case helped the nation come out of slumber by exposing short comings in our constitution particularly with regards to immunity enjoyed by the state president.

Some ruling party members, either being sympathetic to their cadre or coming alive to the danger and possible abuse of this absurd constitutional provision, have been motivated to push for a holistic constitutional review (including the provision on immunity for the sitting president). This move is quite necessary, but it is very important that the review of the constitution provides sustainable solutions and addresses the current shortcomings on presidential immunity over and above ensuring that what happened to the former BDP Secretary General or worse does not happen again.

Editor's Comment
Molepolole unrest: Urgent attention on missing person cases

From Jakoba's mysterious disappearance on November 9 to the grim discovery of his remains at Mosinki Lands, a gap in the response mechanisms of the police and village leadership has been laid bare. The community's anger is evident, seen in the attack on Bakang Masole, the man found driving Jakoba's taxi and the main suspect, and the subsequent riot. Residents express discontent, citing a troubling trend of missing persons cases often...

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