Ntuane remains leader of the Opposition

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Wednesday August 18, 2010 00:00

 

Newly elected president of BNF, Duma Boko, said yesterday that they would take time to observe what is happening as the current political dynamics are so fluid.

He said the cat and mouse game between BDP and BMD makes it difficult for anybody to know whether today's situation will still be the same the following day.

'You can't be sure whether there will be no more defections between the two parties,' he said.

He said that the BNF will take time and wait until the situation has stabilised. MP for Mogoditshane, Patrick Masimolole, and Shoshong MP, Phillip Makgalemele, joined the BMD in August but made a u-turn last week to rejoin the BDP.

Their departure left BMD with six MPs, the same number as that of the BNF that had held the position since 1999.Botsalo Ntuane has not even earned his first salary as Leader of the Opposition, which is equivalent to that of an assistant minister.

He is chauffered in a black Mercedes Benz and President Ian Khama, has to consult him before making appointments of senior government officials such as the Ombudsman and the chairman of intelligence tribunal.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Margaret Nasha, said yesterday that the status quo remains and Parliament recognises BMD as the official opposition. She said that the two parties should talk about the way forward and inform her about any changes.

'They should talk amongst themselves about any changes and notify me and I will declare,' Nasha said.  She said that since Parliament is in adjournment, changes can only be made in November.

The Attorney General, Attalia Molokomme, echoed Nasha's sentiments that legally, nothing has changed. She said that any changes should be communicated to the Speaker who would then make an announcement.