The Gaborone South MP landed in trouble when he prematurely ruled that the debate on President Ian Khama’s State of the Nation Address should come to an end. Molatlhegi called on the Leader of the House and Vice President, Mokgweetsi Masisi to make his response, thereby closing the debate.
Earlier MPs who are new in Parliament appeared afraid to debate the address. Before Molatlhegi made the blunder, the only MPs who had responded to the speech were the Leader of Opposition, Duma Boko, the MP for Maun West, Tawana Moremi and Francistown South legislator Wynter Mmolotsi. After Mmolotsi’s contribution, nobody was willing to stand up and debate the speech despite Molatlhegi’s appeal. The deputy Speaker then gave MPs 15 minutes to debate the speech as he consulted with parliamentary aides but they were still hesitant. Molatlhegi said it was his first time to observe that MPs were not willing to talk. When Masisi came in, Molatlhegi ordered that he should make his response and close the debate. But the MP for Okavango, Bagalatia Aaron insisted that he had long stood up before Masisi came in but the deputy Speaker did give him a chance. Aaron requested that he should be given a chance to contribute to the President’s speech. However, Molatlhegi maintained that he had given the MPs ample time and his decision to close debate was final. This did not go down well with opposition MPs who felt that Aaron should speak but the deputy Speaker stuck to his guns.
