Khama too busy for Parliament � Kokorwe
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday December 15, 2015 18:00
“The President has explained and we also know that he has a lot of other responsibilities, I am unbothered by the fact that he does not attend Parliament as Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi is ever present in Parliament,” Kokorwe said.
The opposition Members of Parliament have, however, on many occasions slammed the President for not attending Parliament even when serious matters are debated.
Leader of Opposition, Duma Boko recently expressed displeasure that Khama just comes to Parliament to deliver the State of the Nation Address, but does not care about the feedback from Members of Parliament (MPs).
In his response recently, Gaborone Central legislator, Phenyo Butale also slammed the President for the same adding that it is very unfortunate that Khama has not even bothered to listen to the Leader of Opposition’s response.
Still at the press conference, Kokorwe commended members for active participation in the State of the Nation Address as well as in filing parliamentary questions and private members’ motions despite having only five weeks.
She said during the session, 372 questions were received, of which 177 were answered, for minister question time, 24 were received an four were answered. As for private members’ motions; 82 were received, two negated while two were withdrawn.
Kokorwe attributed the low response rate to the fact that time was limited and that there were many supplementary questions.
“Time was also consumed by adjournments necessitated by use of improper language by members,” Kokorwe said, further stating that in the 15-year tenure as a parliamentarian debates in Parliament were clean.
The former Botswana Ambassador to Zimbabwe denied being partisan. “I have long divorced politics and became an ambassador, even members from when I was deputy speaker while an MP knew I was impartial and fair at all times, my deputy Kagiso Molatlhegi is also impartial,” she said.
Kokorwe would not respond to any questions on the issue surrounding specially nominated parliamentarians as they have been issued with a notice to sue by the leader of the Botswana Congress Party, Dumelang Saleshando.
It is still a mystery as to who nominated Saleshando and Botsalo Ntuane for the specially elected parliamentarians when the last sitting resumed in November.