Khama freezes Parliament

President Khama: The Attorney General's submission says proceeding would cause a Constitutional crisis PIC: KAGISO ONKATSWITSE
President Khama: The Attorney General's submission says proceeding would cause a Constitutional crisis PIC: KAGISO ONKATSWITSE

The High Court will today hear an urgent application in which the Attorney General wants amendments to parliamentary Standing Orders that allow for secret ballot voting of the Vice President, declared unconstitutional.

The development comes after President Ian Khama effectively froze today’s scheduled opening of Parliament by withholding a proclamation he issues allowing for the swearing in of members and the commencement of sitting.

Khama’s freezing of Parliament has heightened speculation around the identity of his preferred Vice President, whom some critics believe he wants endorsed by a show of hands in order to ensure allegiance among ruling party members. The High Court case is the latest round of a battle in which Khama wants the Standing Orders changed back to a vote “by show of hands”. Legislators changed the standing order to secret ballot just before dissolution in August, but Khama’s lawyers, Collins Newman and Company, hit back recently.

Editor's Comment
Doctor's orders can't be overemphasised

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