Constitutional review imminent
The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) led government believes that a constitutional review is due. The party revealed at its Manifesto launch this past weekend that in the next five years, it will have a broad-based consultative process of the review of the Constitution of Botswana. Since independence, the Constitution of Botswana has undergone very little review. “The BDP therefore commits to a comprehensive review of the Botswana constitution with an aim to aligning it to international standards. “As a republic, we need a constitution that guarantees all citizens equality before the law. All discriminatory provisions will be removed in favour of more inclusive provisions. The BDP will consult widely and open debates on the shape and form of the Botswana 05745 constitution”, reads the Manifesto. The BDP also believes that a nation of Botswana’s size, scale, and composition needs a strong, directly elected parliament with real legislative and oversight powers, in order to effectively deliver national projects and curb corruption. The BDP says it will introduce new legislation that will make ministers and senior civil servants legally accountable for their decisions and for the management of their departments in the public interest. According to the party its government will reform the Botswana local government structure through a constitutional review.