Khama hates the opposition

Harry S. Truman was right in observing that “once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.”

It is becoming increasingly difficult for the opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent Batswana well and provide effective oversight on the government and the ruling party. In Parliament, the speakership is biased against the opposition; rules of order and procedure are applied selectively to prejudice the opposition and to favour the ruling party. In some cases the Speaker joins the debate by intervening on behalf of the ruling party. Some rulings by the Speaker are clearly arbitrary, irrational and unlawful. If it was elsewhere where there is strong well-resourced opposition and civil society, the Speaker would have been sued numerous times. Unlike the biographer of Voltaire, Evelyn Beatrice Hall, who in recognition of free speech said “ I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”, the Speaker is incompetent to defend and guarantee free speech of opposition MPs.

Freedom of expression is limited in the House. Standing Order 23.2 provides that “the name of the President shall not be used disrespectfully during the debate”. The speakership’s interpretation of this provision is that certain adverse opinions cannot be held and expressed about the President.  This is clearly ultra vires Section 12 of the Constitution which grants freedom of expression including the freedom to hold opinions. Expressions like “the government is ruled by thieves” or that “the leaders are corrupt” are effectively outlawed. If it is the opinion of an MP that the ruling party distributes public offices as patronage to reward loyalist and that the system is political corruption, hence corrupt leaders, it would take intense persuasion and arguments for that to go into the records of Parliament. The Speaker cannot compel Ministers to answer questions, if a Minister chooses not to provide adequate information, become evasive or mislead Parliament, the Speaker would become complicit and abet this misdemeanour.

Editor's Comment
Congratulations Anicia Gaothuse!

The contest had 10 beautiful young girls as finalists and unfortunately only one could wear the crown.The judges picked Anicia Gaothuse. To all those who feel their contestant should have won ahead of Anicia for whatever reason, hardly; the judges found Anicia to be the best among the best, so desist from disrespecting our newly crowned queen on social media or anywhere else, for that matter! Each of the 10 beautiful young women had supporters...

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