Parliament: The joke is on us

Members of Parliament, from cabinet ministers, to the opposition to the officials of the august House, appeared to have conspired to weaken the integrity of the constitutionally critical institution. Bearing in mind that traditionally, Parliament’s November session is shorter and dominated by the State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the associated debates, legislators appeared hellbent on using the little time they had to befouling an institution that represents ordinary citizens’ only access to national decisionmaking.

In just eight weeks, Batswana sat gobsmacked, as legislators insulted each other, levelled unfounded allegations, cried, screamed, threatened and virtually did everything except represent the national good. Cabinet ministers continued their apathy towards Parliament, absconding from debates and thus delaying progress on critical themes.