Let MPs stay in rented houses � Nasha
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday September 26, 2014 15:00
According to a leaked Cabinet memo, President Ian Khama recently extended a special dispensation to allow former MPs to remain in rented accommodation following the dissolution of Parliament.
In an interview with Mmegi, Nasha said while this is an unprecedented dispensation, there is nothing wrong with what the President has done. Nasha’s reasons however, are rooted on compassion than on issues of law.
She said the issue regarding paying for MPs accommodation beyond the resolution of Parliament was discussed and agreed by all political parties before it was passed to Cabinet for consideration early this year.
Compassionate Nasha said this was long overdue. “Our MPs have been suffering a lot. They have children. Imagine what would have happened to their children if they were to be forced out of the rented houses by end of August. Some of them would have to transfer them to different schools mid term. This would be a huge inconvenience,” she said.
She stressed that MPs need time to reorganise themselves before they leave the rented houses. “These are human beings, you cannot throw them away into streets because they are no longer MPs.”
Another issue that should be addressed by the next Parliament is the fact that during the end of the parliamentary session MPs are paid only up to the end of August.
“Why can’t they be paid up to the last day before the general elections? The same thing was done with councillors after they advocated for it. I feel the same thing should be extended to MPs,” she said.