BDP MPs to negotiate with opposition colleagues
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday December 18, 2014 13:10
Speaking during a press conference called by BDP Members of Parliament (MPs) on Tuesday, Molao said they have informed the Speaker of the National Assembly about their intentions to negotiate with their opposition colleagues.
“I have even related the message to Leader of Opposition Duma Boko about our intentions. But it should be clear that we are willing to do that provided they re-visit their decision of withdrawing from parliamentary committees. Our belief is that we should be united as MPs because the whole purpose is to serve the public, not party or individual interests,” Molao said. He said they will negotiate with the opposition in good faith because Parliament is supposed to discharge their mandate.
This follows the recent decision by the opposition MPs to withdraw from all parliamentary committees, protesting the ruling party’s dominance of the structures.
Parliament has 23 committees and opposition complains that BDP is in control of all committees except the health committee, and the Public Accounts Committee that is chaired by an opposition MP according to Standing Orders.
Two weeks ago, after members of the Umbrella for Democratic Change and the Botswana Congress Party walked out, the opposition whip, Wynter Mmolotsi, said they would rejoin those committees after ruling BDP comes to its senses.
On other issues, Molao said he is happy about the cooperation and unity that prevails amongst his team of MPs.
“We are united as BDP MPs and very cooperative in this 11th Parliament. It shows lot of maturity amongst our members. I know people think that someone influences us to do so, but that is not correct because we do have robust debates in our caucus but we do respect the decision of majority. There are certain Bills that we had rejected that were supposed to be brought by certain ministers,” Molao said.
The Minister of Health, Dorcas Makgato, said they have resolved as MPs to work collectively as BDP MPs.
Meanwhile MP Liakat Karblay differed with fellow BDP legislators by saying that he believes that some ministers should answer questions asked by Parliamentarians, whether some information is in the public domain or not. He said they should know that MPs ask questions on behalf of the public.