The President should account to Parliament
Friday, December 05, 2014
We agree with Keorapetse that the President should be forced, legally, to attend Parliament and be accountable to parliamentarians. Besides, the Constitution of Botswana recognises the President as an ex officio member of the House. In fact it is Members of Parliament (MPs) that elected the President. It is odd that the current President hardly attends Parliament to debate issues with MPs. This has always been President Ian Khama’s mondus operandi since he joined politics more than 15 years ago.
It is important for the President to participate in parliamentary debates so he is accountable to the electorate and engages MPs. A good example is the South African parliamentary system, where the constitution prescribes that the President should account to Parliament and answer question from MPs at least four times a year.
It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...