Saleshando burns constitutional amendment draft bill

Spira Tlhankane | Tuesday June 4, 2024 13:40

Lighting up the printed copy of the draft bill before BCP members in Kasane last Saturday, Saleshando said he wanted to show the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) legislators and President Mokgweetsi Masisi that the draft bill is a scam. State President minister, Kabo Morwaeng, presented the Bill for a second reading a few weeks ago and a number of legislators have been taking turns debating the amendments. Most ruling Members of Parliament are in support of the bill while the opposition has pointed out that it needs to be re-examined.

“Until they come up with a bill that will be all-inclusive, we will burn everything that is put before us without our input. Until they come up with a bill that respects that Basubiya, Bambukushu, and Bayei are people, we will never recognise this bill,” Saleshando said. The BCP leader told the Kasane residents that Parliament is currently in turmoil over the bill because the BDP believes in first-generation human rights only. He said they are now fighting because the BCP on the other side believes in second-generation human rights like the right to work.

Saleshando said they have irked BDP legislators because the BCP is pushing for the right to decent work, a thing the former doesn’t agree with. “They don’t want people who work the same job to get the same wages,” he said. The Maun West legislator added that what they want in the bill is for every tribe to be taught using their mother tongue in schools.

He said the draft bill was coined by the BDP so that they could increase their MPs in Parliament. “This bill is a disgrace, the BDP doesn’t take you seriously. They are saying that in 2024 many years after independence we should have a Constitution which is clearly saying that other tribes are inferior to others,” he told BCP members in Kasane. Saleshando emphasised that he undervalues the bill and urged Batswana to also do the same.