Motswaledi motion put on ice
Lerato Maleke | Tuesday February 17, 2015 18:00
Last Friday, when Tati West MP, Biggie Butale’s much anticipated motion should have been discussed, National Assembly deputy speaker Kagiso Molatlhegi noted that it could not as relevant ministers were absent.
The Botswana Democratic Party aspiring chairman, Butale, has proposed that Motswaledi be honoured through the naming of a major government facility after him.
When debate was to begin, confusion reigned over whether the motion should be directed at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration or Transport and Communications. It then emerged that apart from Transport and Communications’ Nonofo Molefhi, the ministers critical in the discussion were absent from the House. It was then agreed that the motion was the responsibility of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology.
“It appears ministers are not serious about parliamentary debates,” Molatlhegi said.
“The debates cannot continue in their absence as they are expected to respond.”
Shashe West legislator and BDP chief whip, Fedelis Molao said ministers were setting a bad precedent by absconding from the House.
Gaborone Central MP, Phenyo Butale, who stepped in as UDC candidate at Motswaledi’s sudden passing two months before the elections, said parliamentary debates could not be delayed by ministers’ absence. “Ministers are not serious. Parliamentary debates cannot be delayed because of them,” he said. Francistown South representative, Wynter Mmolotsi, argued that the motions were for legislators in general to debate, not ministers alone.
Other legislators also jumped in support of Mmolotsi argument.
“A kere whatever is said here is recorded? So they will listen to the recordings,” said Mmolotsi amidst laughter. Gaborone North legislator, Haskins Nkaigwa said he was not surprised by the delay in the motion as “I expected this”.
“Ya bo e tlaa re go buiwa ka ngwana wa ga mma Gomolemo go bo go senyega (trouble starts as soon as we speak of MmaGomolemo’s son),” he said.
Molatlhegi ruled that the motion would be debated this Friday.