Parly kicks off but...
Staff Writer | Thursday October 30, 2014 17:01
According to National Assembly officials, parliamentarians will be sworn in at 1400hrs and leave, without further business. Ordinarily and according to the published schedule, the sworn-in legislators would have elected a new speaker and deputy speaker, before endorsing the Vice President.
“The legislators will only be sworn in to mark the sitting of the 11th Parliament, but other agenda items cannot continue because they are the subject of an ongoing High Court case,” an Assembly official explained.
Yesterday morning, the High Court postponed a case in which the Attorney General wants amendments made in August to Parliament’s voting methods struck down. The amendments to the Standing Orders provide for legislators to vote the speaker and endorse or reject the Vice President nominations via secret ballot instead of by a show of hands.
The Attorney General is arguing that the extent of the amendments amount to tampering with the Constitution and could lead to a crisis if the proper procedures of amendment are not followed.
The suit came after President Ian Khama, on behalf of the ruling party and through his lawyers, asked the National Assembly not to go ahead with secret ballot method in a letter written last week.
Yesterday, Khama withheld his proclamation, which is required for Parliament to sit, pending the hearing of the case.
The case has resulted in a curious legal precedent where the Attorney General sues the ruling and opposition parties, based on a complaint written on behalf of the ruling party and its leader. The High Court case has been postponed to November 6, where arguments will be heard.