Plugging the legislative brain drain
Mmegi Editor | Friday May 29, 2015 12:44
In recent years, the National Assembly, the pivotal democratic institution in Botswana, has lost luminaries such as Joy Phumaphi, Boyce Sebetlela, Obakeng Moumakwa and others.
Invariably, the departed legislators have moved on to more fruitful careers in the private sector and on the continent, sending a silent but powerful message on the challenges of public service.
There appears to be a question of adequately remunerating our legislators if we are to retain an intellectually robust and lucid legislature capable of effectively transmitting citizens’ desires and aspirations by way of law making and governance.
Far too often, it appears the private sector – in particular – is only too eager to tap into the intellectual resources available in Parliament and the task is only made easier by the inferior remuneration in the National Assembly.
An intellectually weak parliament is undesirable, as noted in numerous instances where few legislators stand up to debate the budget reasonably. In other instances, critical legislation has sailed through the House, as legislators are unable to tackle the issues while equally being too proud to admit it.
At the same time however, it is also important to recall the spirit of public service that formed the first parliaments in the history of democracy. In fact, it was only early in 20th century United Kingdom that legislators became remunerated. Prior to this, they were driven purely by the spirit of public service.
Recognising that non-remuneration meant legislators would need to be wealthy (usually landowners in those times), the British introduced salaries to Members of Parliament, allowing commoners to become lawmakers. Cynics believe this was the birth of electoral jostling, as some viewed parliament as a source of income and not an opportunity to serve.
The spirit of public service that many of our legislators shout themselves hoarse about at freedom squares, cannot be bought by higher wage offers or better career prospects.
The unspoken contract between the electorate and the elected is one of trust: that for the next five years, you will represent our grievances, or hopes, our aspirations and our thanksgiving to the national institution formed for such discourse.
At present, it would appear that the remaining members of parliament are either there because they need sources of income or because they have no better alternative.
In either case, our National Assembly is the poorer for it and Batswana even poorer.
Our frail public coffers cannot afford the costs of frequent by-elections and voters can scarcely go through another bruising round of propaganda and electioneering that frequently accompany these campaigns.
Especially when there is no guarantee that the chosen representative will not up and go at the earliest sniff of an alternative more lucrative posting.
Today’s thought
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
- Mahatma Gandhi