Reatile was debating a motion requesting Government to recognise Masire's and, other deserving Batswana, national service by naming public institutions and landmarks in their honour tabled by Specially Elected MP Botsalo Ntuane. Reatile said that while it is good to remember the former president's good contributions, the negative should not be overlooked. He said that during the riots, Masire ordered that the police should shoot to kill any member of the public who caused trouble. However, he said that there was a certain foreigner named Sipho Sithole who was terrorising locals but the police did not shoot him.

Reatile said that Masire is the only president who has had many commissions that never reported to Parliament. Reatile, who did not yield to other heckling MPs, left the House after his debate.

This did not go well with BDP MPs, saying that the MP should withdraw his statement. MP for Molepolole North Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri and Assistant Minister of Agriculture Peter Siele said Reatile was misleading the public and should prove his allegations.

Minister of Communications, Science and Technology Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi wondered if "it is not possible to call the MP into the House to come and withdraw the statement". Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Lt. General Mompati Merafhe concurred that Reatile's allegations were serious and should not go unchallenged. The BDP MPs cleared Masire's name.

MP for Palapye, Boyce Sebetela, also told the House that the motion was awkward. "I find the motion awkward." He wondered why Masire was singled out, warning that naming of landmarks after politicians was a wrong move. He said that instead this could be done with artists, sportsmen and people in other fields and not politicians. He said that an honour should come as a surprise to the recipient instead of it coming through a parliamentary or council motion. He said that he had no position on the motion.

MP for Gaborone South, Akanyang Magama, said there was no need to put Masire's name in the motion. He commended the former president for what he saw as implementing ideas of opposition parties such as reducing the voting age from 21 to 18 and the introduction of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), among others. Magama said Masire's retirement was a result of factionalism in the BDP. "He was pushed out by infighting and BDP factionalism," Magama said.

He added that Masire refused to let a hospital in Francistown to be named after Phillip Matante. Magama was agitated when Mahalapye Botlogile Tshireletso sought clarification on the matter, saying, "What are you clarifying? These things are beyond your comprehension." Magama did not support the motion.