Mmegi

Irate MPs to confront Boko over ‘hurtful’ remarks

MPs in Parliament PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
MPs in Parliament PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Following President Duma Boko’s remarks that Members of Parliament (MPs) are showboating instead of passing laws, the incensed legislators are looking forward to taking the Head of State head on at the General Assembly.

Speaking at the High-Level Business Engagement Forum in Gaborone recently, Boko criticised legislators for not focusing on making laws that make doing business easier. “You see a lot of showboating taking place on the floor of Parliament, a lot of grandstanding, a lot of intellectual vacuity, people not doing what they’re supposed to do. They are asking questions, moving motions - what motions, what questions? Your job is to make laws; when you make laws, you bind the Executive,” Boko said.

As they were itching to respond to what Boko said, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dithapelo Keorapetse, advised that it was not the appropriate time to do such. Keorapetse advised MPs to deal with the Committee of Supply and use the appropriate forum being General Assembly where Boko can avail himself. “I know legislators are furious about these issues but let's address this at the right platform,” he said. Keorapetse said this after some irate MPs had indicated that they do not agree with Boko attacking them on the wrong platforms where they cannot defend themselves. Maun East legislator, Goretetse Kekgonegile, said they cannot just focus on Bills ad motions but they also have to ask questions because the latter motivates the resolution of problems. Speaking of questions, Boko had said that MPs spend 90% of their time in Parliament asking inconsequential questions like asking when a window of a classroom at Mogoditshane Senior Secondary is going to be fixed. “You have brought this to Parliament about a window? We are not saying it must not be fixed but is this the right forum? Could you not go to the right authorities and tell them to fix it? You want to go to Parliament and spend time and temporal and financial resources so that people debate the fixing of a window?” Boko questioned.

Editor's Comment
Let’s fight GBV as a collective

Botswana for the longest time was known for her virulent peace with family being an enviable institution.As the media, we are also scared to be incessantly reporting on these bloody scenes where women are brutally murdered and worse, sometimes in front of their children and loved ones. Yes, we have reported cases where men were also brutally murdered by their loved ones, but such cases are a drop in the ocean.For the past two weeks, Botswana was...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up