Botswana’s First Comprehensive Constitutional Review Underway

This information is reported in Constitutionnet. Here is an excerpt:

In fulfillment of the promise he made during his campaign for the 2019 general elections, on 17 December 2021 President Mokgweetsi Masisi announced the appointment of the first Presidential Commission of Enquiry into the review of the Constitution of Botswana, which has been given a comprehensive mandate to review the entire constitutional framework. Adopted in 1966, the country’s Constitution has undergone several amendments, but no major constitutional reforms have been introduced since independence. In fact, as analyzed on ConstitutionNet, the government’s previous introduction of piecemeal amendments raised concerns about overall commitment to the promised comprehensive reform. The long-awaited appointment of the Commission confirms the government’s commitment to constitutional reform, but it is not yet clear whether there will be a fully transparent, robust, and participatory constitutional review process. Currently, there is no clear roadmap for how the Commission will carry out its work, how the Commission will incorporate the inputs of public consultation, and where the Commission’s report fits into the overall constitutional amendment process. Nevertheless, the Commission has already started a public engagement drive to meet its September 2022 deadline to submit its report on recommendations to the President.

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