Gaborone who is also the vice president of the Botswana National Front (BNF) said their MPs are free to debate issues unlike those from the BNF.  He said they have never taken any MP to task over their contributions in Parliament. It has become increasingly difficult for BDP MPs to  debate freely in Parliament for fear of reprisals from the party. The back-benchers are censured by the party not to make any statements that could be seen to be anti-establishment. The motions they propose to move have to be screened by the party before they are presented in Parliament. Recently, the BDP proposed motion by Gaborone West South MP, Botsalo Ntuane, calling for a constitutional review. The proposed motion was one of Ntuane's campaign promises before last year's general elections. In another sign of tight control, BDP MPs were ordered to vote against a motion by the Gaborone Central MP Dumelang Saleshando, seeking to table a bill calling for a declaration of assets and liabilities by national leaders.

On Friday, the BDP MPs who were supporting Saleshando's motion, walked out in protest because they did not want to vote against it. 

One of the MPs said he could not go against his principle. When rejecting the motion, Vice-President Mompati Merafhe said they would not allow the opposition to steal the limelight from them.  Merafhe said politics is a game of numbers and the majority should always prevail. BDP MPs are usually instructed to reject motions during party caucus meetings. Saleshando who is also the publicity secretary for the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), said the BDP caucus system undermines the running of Parliament. 

The MP said in an ideal situation, Parliament is supposed to keep the cabinet in check. He said the BDP back-benchers have no final say in the decisions that are adopted by the party caucus.  He said this means that BDP MPs can never pursue their independent thoughts in Parliament. "The society would be better if we allow divergent views to be debated.  But now there is a system of stifling debate," he said.

He said the people must question the value of voting BDP MPs when the party does not allow independent thinking. He said that in Botswana, the will of the president prevails over that of the cabinet. "It is not the will of the majority at the cabinet, but of the president," he said.

University of Botswana (UB) political analyst, Dr David Sebudubudu has said the BDP back-benchers have become prisoners of their own rules.  He suggested that it is the BDP members themselves who could review the rules of the caucus meetings. He said people are blaming the current leadership, but the rules have always been there. He said President Ian Khama is only imposing rules that have always been there. Regarding the suspension of Ntuane, the UB don views it as a symptom of intolerance.  He said the suspension of the legislator shows that there is limited freedom and tolerance.

Sebudubudu said BDP back-benchers have been voted on the party ticket and are expected to toe the line and they are free to resign from the party on principle. He said the MPs should be prepared to resign if they are committed to what they believe in. He said limiting debate in Parliament and political parties is tantamount to stifling democracy.

However, BDP deputy executive secretary, Lee Lesetedi wondered what the fear is all about.  He  said the BDP MPs are bound by caucus decisions.  He said the decisions that are adopted by the caucus are based on the majority. The BDP official said the party does not dictate to its MPs what they should say in Parliament. He said the MPs are even free to make criticisms in Parliament.  He added that the BDP is still a democratic institution, but like every organisation it has its own rules and regulations.