MP Healy backs Constitution Amendment Bill amid criticism
In the wake of debates surrounding the proposed Constitution Amendment Bill, Member of Parliament for Gaborone Central, Tumisang Healy, has announced his intention to vote in favour of the bill.
The amendment has sparked criticism from civil society organisations, who argue that the proposed changes do not accurately reflect the views of Batswana citizens collected during the nine-month consultative Kgotla meeting process.
The bill, which represents an extract of public opinions expressed during the Dibotelo Commission of Enquiry, has come under fire from Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO) and the Evangelic Fellowship of Botswana. They claim that the white paper submitted to the government following the consultation process does not include many of the concerns raised by citizens.
In a final effort to halt the bill's passage, civil society organisations have been lobbying members of the national assembly to reject the amendment. However, in an exclusive interview with The Midweek Sun, Healy, a member of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), expressed his support for the amendment, stating that he believes the proposed changes align with the wishes of Batswana.
'As a Member of Parliament, a member of the BDP, and in my personal capacity, I believe this is what Batswana want,' Healy said. 'Although the white paper may not encompass every concern voiced during the consultation process, I am confident that the proposed amendment addresses many of our people's wishes.'
Despite the mounting criticism and opposition from civil society groups, Healy wishes the bill gets a thumbs up in parliament.
As the debate surrounding the amendment continues, citizens wait anxiously to see how the government will address the concerns raised by the public and whether the final version of the bill will truly represent the interests of the nation.