Weeping Moswaane threatens to defect

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday December 3, 2015 11:40

 

The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) legislator, who stood on a point of order, told the House that he did not know why Parliament was sitting and MPs getting free drinking water while people were suffering outside.

“It’s been a month and days since Tlokweng, Mmopane and Mogoditshane residents have been  living without water. I don’t know why Parliament should go on as if everything is normal. People in those areas have to go to the nearest places and restaurants to relieve themselves and even to ask for drinking water. This is terrible,” Moswaane said.

Although the Speaker of the National Assembly Gladys Kokorwe tried to order Moswaane to sit down, accusing him of being out of order, the MP continued.

“There is no one who is going to stop me from talking. Why should we be given a sitting allowance when people are suffering? You can do whatever you want but I am not going to stop talking or else I will cross the floor,” he stressed.  However, Kokorwe told Moswaane that she did not care whether he crossed the floor or not.

“Rre Moswaane, you are out of order. Eo ga se kgang yame ya gore o tla cross or not,” Kokorwe said. Moswaane said he had filed an urgent motion but did not know why his motion had not been brought to Parliament.

As the exchange went on, Moswaane started weeping.

The assistant minister of Local Government and Rural Development Botlogile Tshireletso had to escort Moswaane out to calm him.

“Ao shem!” was all the Speaker could say as Tshireletso comforted the crying Moswaane on his way out.

As the drama wind down, the MP for Molepolole South Mohammed Khan asked the Speaker if she had seen Moswaane’s urgent motion, to which Kokorwe said it was not brought to her.

Later, Moswaane told Mmegi that ministers were failing to do their job.

“We have spoken about these issues several times at our party caucus but nothing is being done. I am a BDP true believer but I will cross if it keeps on failing to fulfill its promises. I want people to be supplied with water. Why should people buy water when we are supposed to be giving them free water,” he asked.