Uncertainty surrounds special Parly meeting
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday October 25, 2016 18:00
Speaking to Mmegi yesterday, following the President’s call for a Special meeting, just ddays before the State of the Nation Address that was scheduled for November 2, the Speaker said she was not sure what was going to happen after December 1 - the date when the special meeting will end.
“Normally, National Development Plans are discussed during the July meeting, but it was not possible this month. The President has therefore called for a special meeting, which will last until December 1. At this point I am not sure if the President will prorogate the meeting and make the State of the Nation Address,” she said.
However, she said Parliament general assembly will decide whether it wants questions and motions to be tabled during the special meeting scheduled for this week.
President Khama has called a special meeting of Parliament in line with powers vested in him by Section 93 (1) of the Constitution. The special meeting will commence on Wednesday and will end on December 1, 2016.
“The MPs are the ones who are going to decide on what they want, not me. It is not true that there would be no questions and motions. Unless MPs decide so, at the general assembly, I don’t have powers on the matter. This special meeting is meant to discuss National Development Plan 11 (NDP11),” Kokorwe said.
She said nothing has been finalised concerning general assembly business until parliamentarians agree on what should transpire during the special meeting.
Mmegi has learnt that the Parliamentary Business Advisory Committee met and advised that motions should not be allowed so that MPs could centre on NDP 11, which is normally given focus during the winter Parliament. However, the committee accepted that questions and answers be allowed.
Opposition chief whip, Wynter Mmolotsi said as opposition parties they are concerned that other important issues would not be discussed as they have learnt that motions would not be allowed.
“Parliament has a way of running. Even during special meetings, it is still using the same Standing Orders. We hope other BDP MPs would agree with us that there is need to include or allow certain motions,” Mmolotsi said.