"It's absurd," Kwelagobe complains

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Thursday July 22, 2010 00:00

 

The emotionally charged chairperson of the BDP said he was against the clause that says if an MP was to bring a private member's bill to parliament, the legislator should first seek approval from one third or 20 members of the National Assembly.

Kwelagobe, also the MP for Molepolole South, said he and his constituents find the proposal absurd.

Kwelagobe said this would be unfair to members of the opposition because currently they are only 17 in total. He wondered where the opposition members are supposed to raise the expected number. 

He said it would be difficult for opposition members to lobby BDP MPs because the party might take disciplinary action against them. He said this would be tantamount to stifling the opposition.

Kwelagobe said he likes the opposition but he does not want them to be denied a chance to present their views in parliament.  'We would be implying that they should not table bills.  We should allow the opposition to debate issues even if we don't support them'. 

Kwelagobe appealed to speaker, Margaret Nasha, that she must not allow democracy to be swept under her feet. However, Nasha appealed to him to calm down.

He has never concealed his friendship with the MPs that were expelled from the BDP to form the BMD.  Recently, he travelled with one of the BMD founders, Sam Guma-Moyo, on a private trip to Zimbabwe. 

The two men still maintain a close relationship even though they are in opposite camps in parliament.

The MP for Gaborone Central, Dumelang Saleshando, pleaded with the Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Lesego Motsumi, to withdraw the clause. 

Saleshando said the consensus that the MPs had was that they must relax the conditions under which private members' bill should be tabled. 

According to Saleshando, one of the key roles of an MP is to legislate.  He said the purpose of the amendment of the standing orders is to make it easier for MPs to make laws.

'Why do you want to make it so much difficult to bring a bill?' he asked.

He said when they want to table bills, they are not supposed to beg their BDP counterparts.

'I don't represent you. I must get permission from my constituents,' he said.

MP for Bobirwa, Shaw Kgathi, said he supports the proposed clause. 

'It is unfortunate that we should identify ourselves by parties,' he said, adding that the proposal has nothing to do with the opposition.

Kgathi said he could always support the opposition if they were to table a bill with a substance. 

He said even cabinet ministers consult with their colleagues before they table bills in parliament.  'We are doing this law for the sake of the nation,' he stressed.