Masisi to field MPs questions
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Friday August 18, 2017 15:57
Parliamentarians yesterday welcomed the proposed amendments to the Parliament standing orders presented by chairperson of the Standing Orders and Reforms Committee Samson Moyo Guma.
Among the proposed amendments to the standing orders, which Guma presented, include the insertion of Standing Order 40 (B) that introduces “Leader of the House’s question time”.
Vice President Masisi doubles as the Leader of the House responsible for government business.
According to the proposed insertion, there shall be asking of questions by members to the Leader of the House on issues of national, regional and international importance on every other Thursday. This is a similar system adopted by South African Parliament, although in South Africa President Jacob Zuma attends Parliament on certain days to field questions from members.
When commenting on the amendments MP for Gaborone Central Phenyo Butale commended the Standing Orders and Reforms Committee. He said while his recommendation to have the state President field questions from members on certain days was watered down, the decision to have his vice stand-in for him shows progress.
“As we improve this standing orders, we should also not regress. Democracies much younger than ours are doing it. South Africa is doing that. But it is commendable that we will have the Leader of the House’s question time,” Butale said.
Selebi-Phikwe West legislator Dithapelo Keorapetse said the amendments are work in progress.
“What we strive for is democratic consolidation and we can only do that by improving democratic institutions such as Parliament. It has to be independent. We should move towards having President’s question time because the Leader of the House is responsible for government business. The President has more powers and should be accountable for his decisions and field questions from MPs,” he said.
Furthermore, he urged other MPs to strive to transform Parliament by submitting more amendments to develop the Standing Orders. He opined that the business of the House should be dominated by the private members business.
Keorapetse pointed out that the country should do away with the current system whereby the Executive dominates the House numerically.
MP for Palapye Moiseraele Goya said the amendments are a step in the right direction. He explained that the proposal to have the Leader of the House’s question time would ultimately transform into the President’s question time.
For a very long time, opposition MPs have been calling for the introduction of President’s question time. They argued that, as Head of State, the President should account and field questions from legislators on matters of national interests.
Meanwhile, the House was adjourned and Parliament session ended before the amendments were passed after the Father of House, also MP for Boteti West Slumber Tsogwane, said the committee had forced them to agree to some of the proposed amendments to the Standing Orders. The Speaker called for a few minutes break and she called the members to a General Assembly after which the Leader of the House moved an adjournment of Parliament.