Time For Parliament To Shine

Monitor Editor | Monday November 10, 2014 16:23

While the Constitution gives the President full powers to nominate the Vice President alone, the balance is that in a well functioning democracy parliament, which does not have the luxury to nominate the Vice President, can exercise its unfettered power of voting to refuse to approve the nominee by way of voting for or against. In a well functioning democracy where MPs do not suck up to the President, they can then exercise their status to fight a genuine battle in the interest of the country, instead of the wishes of one man whom they look up to for cabinet posts and other favours. Talk of politics of the stomach.

With reports already circulating and intimating that the current President has approached at least two or three cabinet ministers requesting them to be interim Vice President until 2016, when they would then hand the baton to the President’s brother, Tshekedi Khama, we sincerely expect a parliament made up of honourable members who would discourage and fight against what appears to be a tendency to turn Botswana Presidency into a fiefdom, of sorts. Honourable MPs, in a well functioning democracy, while they do not have the power to nominate a Vice President, can still speak loudly with their vote and send a strong and serious message to their head of state. Such an act of defiance would not be considered a rebellion in a well functioning democracy; it is called the will of the people, the voice of God. In fact, the time is now for our MPs to stand firm and boldly and show that they exist for Batswana’s interest

By coiling into cowardice and satisfying one man, or one family’s, wishes at the expense of  Batswana is tantamount to entrenching the notion that one man is feared by all, even by parliament. Let parliament and its voice remain sacred, trusted, honourable, and the hope of Batswana; where objective decisions and laws are made for the good of Batswana without fear or favour.

As parliament is expected to vote for the Speaker, Deputy and endorsement of the Vice President, let the House shine, let the honourable House, on either side of the divide, emerge with reputation intact, for parliament is there to serve Batswana and only Batswana, any other interest remains peripheral and self serving.