The BDP way or the highway

also recommended for change of naming of the districts along tribal territories arguing that it fuels tribalism, which was also captured in the BDP resolutions. The ruling party during the National Council demanded in the resolutions that “all the land within such districts should not bear names that confer or intimate ethnicity in their naming and or administration, as a way of buttressing national unity. The same should be extended to existing districts.”

The BDP has openly spoken about the return to politics by former presidents. This came after former President Ian Khama formed a splinter party in 2019, Botswana Patriotic Front ( BPF) only three months into the general election. Since then the BDP has criticised this move and called for legislative intervention. The opposition has not taken a stance on that and observers were of the view that at the time Khama’s influence was working for the opposition and he managed to destabilise the BDP in the central district, which is the party’s stronghold. The opposition was however against such a person running for presidency of the country.

On this issue, the Commission recommended that a retired president who has served two terms, that is 10 years, should not return to active politics. On the issue of political party funding the commission stated that it has to be introduced and be based on parliamentary seats won by parties in the immediate past general election, at the rate of not less than P50 000, or such amount that may be determined by Parliament from time to time, per Member of Parliament. This is seen as having no impact on levelling the playing ground in terms of financial muscle as this will give the BDP the upper hand in getting more funds. In 2020 government through the Assistant Minister of State President Meshack Mthimkhulu indicated that political party funding is going to have some far- reaching consequences on the budget itself or national coffers and political parties. According to Mthimkhulu this will also have impact on how political parties should conduct themselves. The assistant minister said there has to be vigorous consultations on the approach to adopt when dealing with political party funding.

Mthimkhulu said he would not commit to timelines on when the All- Party Conference will be called for the issue to be discussed. The All- Party Conference which, President Mokgweetsi Masisi promised will frequently meet, met only once in 2019.

When it met early in 2020 it was on emergency basis when Masisi wanted the input of political parties regarding his intended State of Emergency following the outbreak of the COVID- 19 pandemic. Alliance for Progressives ( AP) Secretary General Dr. Phenyo Butale said they reject the Report. He indicated that their reading of the President’s move is that it is irrational and unconstitutional. The AP revealed that it is taking legal advice on the matter to consider whether to interdict the process or not. The AP has called on other stakeholders to reject the report and demand a consultative process from the beginning. According to Dr. Butale, the president has no powers to amend the constitution because that power belongs to Parliament.

Botswana Congress Party ( BCP) has also thrown its weight in calling for the rejection of the entire process. BCP was the first political party to report the president to diplomatic missions for failing to take onboard stakeholders on the entire process. BCP Information and Publicity Secretary Professor Mpho Pheko has argued that the Report represents the views of the commissioners and not of Batswana. She said the outcome of this exercise has vindicated the opposition view that the president chose a wrong selfish approach to the constitutional review. According to the BCP spokesperson the recommendations passed on to the president are nothing but a wish list from the president himself. President of the Umbrella for Democratic Change, Duma Boko argues that the commission was a farce from the getgo. “It had no structural ambition. It was a futile charade from the very manner it was conceived and constituted,” Boko said when asked about his views on the report. The country is crying out for a proper comprehensive review of its constitution, Boko said.