Speaker denies BMD recognition

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Wednesday July 7, 2010 00:00

 

This was after Gaborone West South MP, Botsalo Ntuane, interrupted proceedings one hour 30 minutes after the commencement of the day's business in which no announcement about the new party was made.  He argued that the formation and launch of BMD, together with four MPs crossing the floor has a huge impact on the politics of the country.

However, the reasons were not enough to convince Nasha to make that announcement as she insisted that the MPs were not newcomers in the House. She said that the announcement could only be made in instances where there was a by-election and new members were elected to the House.

She said that her office has rearranged the seating arrangement in the House so there wasn't much they could do. Ntuane, together with Wynter Mmolotsi, Gilbert Mangole, and Guma Moyo joined the recently launched BMD. 

Nasha recently told a local newspaper and visiting Russian MPs that she welcomes the BMD and that she was going to make an official announcement of the party's presence in Parliament.

Nasha's refusal to acknowledge the presence of a third opposition party comes at a time when the state owned Botswana Television, Radio Botswana and others under the Office of the President have thrown a news blackout on the new party's activities. Since the party was launched last month, nothing about its activities has been aired on state television while its archrival the BDP enjoys full coverage.

In Botswana politics, the Speaker of the National Assembly is chosen from active members of the ruling party.During the week, he or she wears the Speaker's attire, and party colours on weekends when attending party activities.

Meanwhile, the House debated a bill presented by the MP for Mogoditshane, Patrick Masimolole, calling for amendment of the Interpretation Act on the age of majority from 21 to 18 years.  The majority of MPs supported the bill though they warned that it should not be used by children to bully parents.