Former Deputy Attorney General, Nchunga Nchunga, has cautioned the nation that the recently rejected, controversial constitutional amendment bill could reemerge in the next parliamentary session should the ruling party secure sufficient votes in October to pass it.
The bill was blocked in a dramatic parliamentary session on Wednesday after the opposition walked out, and some members of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) chose not to participate in the vote, preventing the two-thirds majority needed for the bill’s passage.
In an interview, Nchunga observed that the ruling party “may reintroduce the bill with strategic minor changes to make it more palatable and avoid the backlash that led to its initial rejection.” However, he emphasized that the success of such a move would depend on the political landscape following the next elections.
“If the opposition performs well, like we have seen in recent elections in South Africa, the sponsors of this bill will struggle to muster enough numbers to push it through if it is still relevant to them then,” Nchunga said.
The bill has sparked heated debate, with critics accusing President Mokgweetsi Masisi of attempting to increase his powers and diminish his accountability to the nation. The oppositionβs walkout was seen as a significant act of defiance and protest against what they view as an “attempt to rape the constitution.” A united opposition told members of the press that the entire process was flawed and irregular from the appointment of the commissioners to the presentation of the bill in parliament.
They were not alone; civil society mounted a spirited campaign against the bill from day one, issuing statements and eventually passing a resolution to take legal action through their umbrella body, the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO).
On the day of the crucial vote on Wednesday, civil society groups staged a protest march to Parliament, voicing their opposition to the controversial constitutional amendment bill. The demonstration, which attracted significant attention, prompted a heavy police presence around the National Assembly as tensions mounted.
As protesters gathered outside the legislative building, chanting slogans and carrying placards, the situation escalated, leading security forces to disperse the crowd by using force, resulting in clashes with demonstrators.
Later, civil society leaders and commentators accused the government of undermining democratic processes and attempting to consolidate power through constitutional changes. The heavy-handed response by law enforcement sparked human rights abuse concerns, with some condemning the use of violence against peaceful protesters.
The bill proposes significant amendments, including increasing the number of specially elected Members of the National Assembly from six to ten, boosting the number of specially elected Members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi from five to ten, and introducing measures to bar retired Presidents who have served ten years or more from holding any political office.
Some observers suggest that the President only wanted these amendments for himself and may lack the drive to push and facilitate them in his last term, should he secure it. The mover of the bill in parliament, Kabo Morwaeng, could not provide much insight during a press conference when asked about the future of the bill and their plan following its fall, choosing instead to respond in general and evasive terms. In response to the development, opposition parties declared that democracy had finally triumphed.