UDC parly caucus to elect Saleshando’s replacement
Mompati Tlhankane | Tuesday June 28, 2022 03:12
The caucus will decide who will take over the LOO position. UDC leader, Duma Boko revealed during a press briefing on Saturday that the UDC NEC has agreed to meet the UDC parliamentary caucus where they will decide on who will replace Saleshando.
Currently UDC has 14 Members of Parliament (MPs) and eleven are BCP legislators; it is most likely that the next LOO will also be a BCP member. In the 2019 general elections, BCP recorded the highest number of MPs since its formation in 1998. Botswana National Front (BNF) now has only two MPs left after losing both Pono Moatlhodi and Aubrey Lesaso to the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). Another UDC coalition partner Botswana People's Party (BPP) only has one MP being Ignatius Moswaane who joined it from BDP. Recently some BCP MPs have reportedly defied their party and chose to side with Boko in the on-going BNF-BCP conflict.
BCP MPs who have been sympathetic with the UDC since this fracas began are Kenny Kapinga (MP for Okavango), Dithapelo Keorapetse (MP for Selibe Phikwe West), Never Tshabang (MP for Nkange), David Tshere (MP for Mahalapye West) and Onneetse Ramogapi (MP for Palapye). Tshere even openly revealed during a recent rally that he is loyal to Boko as much as he is to Saleshando, because they are both his presidents at different levels. Keorapetse has always been close to Boko and he is among the MPs who might get the LOO position at the caucus.
Boko has indicated that the LOO is a job that comes with the UDC therefore it is not suiting for one to tarnish and belittle the coalition when they are supposed to be the face of it. He said if one is a leader and a person of conscience they must do one simple thing which is to step down.
“The recriminations of your own conscience will impel you to step down from the role because you cannot properly and in good conscience represent that with which you so vociferously and publicly disagree,” Boko said.
The LOO is the official spokesperson of the majority opposition party in Parliament. Saleshando has been the LOO since 2019 and it is a position that he once held between 2012 and 2014 after the then leader of the opposition, Botsalo Ntuane made history as the first LOO in Botswana to defect to the ruling party.
Saleshando now becomes the first LOO in history to lose his role as a result of the suspension.
Following his suspension from the UDC coalition, Saleshando who is also the president of the Botswana Congress Party will no longer have the right to make official statements in the National Assembly on important national and international issues on behalf of the majority opposition.
He will also cease to enjoy the same status as the Leader of the House in relation to the business of the House. Saleshando will not be allotted longer speaking times than ordinary members during debates on the State of the Nation Address, Budget Speech or any other major Government Policy Statement. Besides being unable to perform certain roles Saleshando will no longer enjoy certain benefits, amongst others, security, something he recently fought for and won in court.
In April this year, the Gaborone High Court ordered Parliament to pay an outstanding balance of P225,474 within 30 days to Black Bone (Pty) Ltd security, which has been providing services to Saleshando in his capacity as the LOO.
This came after President Mokgweetsi Masisi instructed Parliament not to authorise payments for security detail provided to the LOO.
When denying the LOO security, Masisi had insisted that Parliament should identify and appoint security providers for Saleshando’s residence, contrary to the provisions of the law.
Furthermore, Saleshando will no longer earn his LOO salary and the latter reportedly earns around P557,880 per annum.
Asked if he recognises the suspension and what the latter means for him especially when it comes to his benefits, Saleshando told The Monitor that he really doesn’t understand how one suspends someone who is not their member.
“Maybe UDC is better placed to explain that. Let me wait for the suspension letter,” he briefly indicated.