Speaker will not tolerate party colours

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Monday December 13, 2010 00:00

 

Supporters of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) turned up in full party colours at the National Assembly last Monday, the day set aside for Vice-President Mompati Merafhe to respond as the Leader of the House.

Even some MPs came draped in signature colours. Whereupon the MP for Lobatse, Nehemiah Modubule, saw red and remonstrated with Madam Speaker!

However, supporters of the newfangled Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) had done so during the Winter session when their defecting MPs were introduced.

They repeated the feat recently when the Leader of the Opposition, Botsalo Ntuane, gave the BMD response to President Ian Khama's State of the Nation address. Besides, BMD MPs routinely come to Parliament dressed in their signature orange, while their BDP counterparts drape themselves in red - capes, ties and all.

Nasha told Modubule on Monday that she had been observing the development with a sense of trepidation and warned that she would not tolerate it any more.

Meanwhile a statement from Parliament says the Nasaha is happy to admit members of the public into the Parliament's public gallery to observe parliamentary proceedings and debates as part of 'taking Parliament to the People'.

'Admission and access to the public gallery will be subject to such restrictions as availability of sitting space and order of protocol, particularly during important ceremonial sessions such as the Opening of Parliament.

Further, there shall be no admission to the gallery of persons adorning clothing, dress or apparel bearing party labels, insignia, and or marks and colours of political parties, in the interest of safeguarding and preserving order and decorum in the House, and to enhance impartiality, consistent with the Westminster parliamentary practice obtaining in most Commonwealth countries,' the statement reads.