Khama freezes Parliament

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.