Opposition MPs betrayed the people

| Tuesday August 7, 2007 00:00

As to whether or not their contribution would have been taken on board is neither here nor there because history would have recorded the fact that the MP'S opposed certain aspects of the bill. The future generation would have perused through the parliamentary book of records (the Hansard) and noted the honourable members' opinion in respect of the Bill.

It is a trite fact that the people have elected the MP'S to be their eyes, mouth and ears. It also trite that members of parliament should have consulted the people before boycotting parliament. That they have decided to boycott parliament on their own volition is at most embarrassing and a betrayal of the people's trust and a derogation of their duties. The argument that the Bill was not presented before the all party caucus is ill-timed and unfortunate because the people voted them and they are accountable to the people first before their political parties. What saddens me most is that the MP's never bothered to inform their constituents that they have boycotted parliament and the reasons thereof.

I note with great concern that MP'S has boycotted parliament at the hour of need when a Bill of such drastic consequences is on the floor. The Bill that is likely to sweep away the liberties of the people. It is a trite fact that the Bill is offensive to the constitutional rights of the people and with this in mind MP'S were duty bound for peoples' sake to attend parliament. This would have given us hope that they, as an alternative government are not mentally poverty stricken in so far as issues of security are concerned. That they failed to contest in parliament is embarrassing. This Bill is likely to overwork and corrupt the intelligence community.

I would therefore urge MPS to learn the simple fact that they are servants of the people not their masters and should start behaving like one.

Richard Josiah
(a concerned fellow citizen)
Francistown