Skelemani's Mugaberisation of Parliament is unconstitutional

Prior to his suspension, Saleshando had alleged that President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s relatives were involved in irregular procurement associated with the COVID-19 response.

National Assembly Speaker, Phandu Skelemani challenged Saleshando to provide evidence and subsequently rejected what was produced to support the assertions. But Saleshando refused to withdraw his allegations, leading to vote on suspension that was carried through.  In our view, it is clear that Skelemani took the decision to please his master. In accordance with the rules of the house, Saleshando has parliamentary privilege and should therefore not have been suspended unless he was disrupting the business of Parliament. The suspension is also meaningless as the only thing Saleshando is losing is sitting allowances only for the suspension week. One may ask: What is the symbolism of this suspension? All it does is to help create a dictatorship by muzzling accountability voices and Botswana does not need any traits of Mugaberisation of her democracy.