President Khama Must Apologise to Batlokwa
Correspondent | Monday April 10, 2017 13:39
James Mathokgwane resigned on June 3, 2015 and on July 8, 2015 the President issued the writ and the election was subsequently held on August 15, 2015. The writ was out in a record one month’s period and elections held in three months’ time! Honourable MP, Same Bathobakae passed away on November 28, 2016 and the writ is out almost five months, and elections are to be held seven months later! In the Goodhope-Mabule by-election, the President moved with lightning speed with the hope that he will outfox the opposition and have his close ally and confidante, Eric Molale elected and therefore help resolve the Vice Presidency headache as Mokgweetsi Masisi was not preferred.
It is therefore morally correct for President Khama to humble himself and apologise to Batlokwa for the serious inconvenience, lack of representation and prolonged uncertainty he has caused. The Tlokweng constituents waited since last year for His Excellency to exercise his discretion diligently, reasonably and without bias or abuse of same.
The President chose to do the contrary and elections will now be held seven months later. We are aware that the Electoral Act does not specify any timeframe to issue a writ. However, the Legislature did not by that fact authorise abuse of discretion or sanction impunity.
Tlokweng constituents and Batswana throughout the country should be applauded for pressuring the President through different means and even threatening to embark on national demonstrations and occupying the Office of the President car park.
The absence of an MP in Tlokweng prejudiced the constituents in the following ways:
l No one advocated for developments for Tlokweng in the recent Budget session as you delayed to issue the writ.
l There was no person representing the interests of Batlokwa;
l There was no person who took complaints and issues adversely affecting Batlokwa to relevant Government offices;
l Parliament discussed Ministerial budgets and the constituents were deprived a voice in all these platforms;
l And many other issues of interest to Batlokwa and Batswana in general.
Furthermore, there has been no communication nor update on why the President did not issue the writ, hence the call for unconditional apology.
As the writ is now out, we call upon all the progressive forces to increase their presence in Tlokweng and help restore democracy and social justice by mobilising and voting for the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) candidate Kenneth Masego Segokgo.
The BDP-led Government has subjected the workers and Batswana to untold misery despite the mammoth wealth and a small population. Here is a Government that has flouted all our labour laws and even International Labour Organisation ratified conventions. The recent High Court judgement on the unlawful public salary increments in 2016 and 2017 by the BDP-led Government is a clear example of how uncaring, careless, ruthless and evil the Government can be to its workers. We applaud the gallant fight by BOFEPUSU as the Courts have vindicated them.
We therefore call upon all registered voters in Tlokweng and those who may have moved elsewhere to come and cast a vote for UDC on May 13, 2017.
Thank you
Justin Hunyepa
Botswana National Front Publicity Secretary and UDC Labour Secretary