MPs postpone PAC business

Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday June 12, 2023 06:00

According to the committee chairman, Wynter Mmolotsi, the members of the committee met on Monday and asked that they be excused to focus on their constituencies.

The Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) was supposed to make the first appearance before the committee on Tuesday. However, journalists who made their way early to the committee meeting were turned back as they were told the business had been postponed.

A press release as then issued by Chief Public Relations Officer of the National Assembly, Silas Sehularo read, “the public is informed that the 60th meeting of the PAC which was scheduled from 5th-23rd June, 2023 has been postponed.

The PAC will now take place at dates to be communicated, during the winter meeting of Parliament which is scheduled for July/ August 2023.” The release also said the 60th PAC was scheduled to examine all Ministries Books of accounts for the financial year 2020/ 21, as well as responses to the Auditor General’s report on the 2020/21 accounts and Performance Audit Reports.

Legislators across the political divide have expressed concern in recent times that those eyeing their constituencies are hard at work campaigning while they on the other hand attend Parliament. “We met as a committee this Monday but decided to postpone as members want time with their constituents. They are worried that they have not had enough time to report back to their constituents and also get instructions for the next parliamentary sitting. You should also bear in mind that elections are coming next year and legislators need to be seen to be working,” Mmolotsi said.

On whether holding the committee meetings when Parliament is on will not distract them, Mmolotsi said they have done so before and expect to pull it off. On the efficiency of the committee, Mmolotsi said there was room for improvement. “While we have limited powers, the PAC acts as a platform for legislators and other decision makers to be able to rectify whatever is identified before the committees. Some would correct themselves following our interaction and also actions would be taken in some instances by the relevant authorities,” he said.

UDC, BPF MPs abstain

While the committee is supposed to have 10 members, only six had been confirmed at the time the committee was to meet. Mmolotsi, the committee chairman is the only opposition legislator.

The other members are Pono Moatlhodi, Johane Thiite, Tumisang Mangwegape-Healy, Polson Majaga and Simon Moabi, all of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP.

The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) joint caucus in March resorted to serving the Botswana Parliament and the Speaker of the National Assembly with court papers for what they termed ‘unbecoming’ behaviour. The opposition parties dramatically walked out of Parliament as a demonstration.

Speaking at a press conference explaining why they walked out, the opposition said it did not want to legitimise bad conduct. On the events leading up to the walk out, the opposition parties said the BDP brought a motion to dissolve all parliamentary committees. “We opposed their motion because we believed the committees were formed and endorsed by Parliament legally.

The BDP using their muscle and numbers in Parliament refused this saying they are the majority in Parliament and that this should be reflected through their dominance in these structures and committees,” claimed the UDC member of Parliament (MP) for Mahalapye West, David Tshere at the time.

According to Tshere, the ruling party wanted to introduce the ratio of five BDP MPs and three opposition MPs to make up parliamentary committees. This according to the opposition is a way of silencing and minimising accountability for the BDP as the committees are oversight bodies.