The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) leadership says they have no choice but to accept the presence of uniformed members of the dreaded Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) in Parliament as security officers.
Addressing a press briefing Tuesday, Francistown South MP, Wynter Mmolotsi said the DIS officers who provide security to the House are identifiable by their uniform.
“These officers were left as part of Parliamentary security when the government security officers were absorbed into the DIS. Remember the parliamentary security officers were taken by the DIS,” said Mmolotsi.
He also claimed that the spy unit trains all security operatives.
The UDC security general and Gaborone Bonnington South legislator Ndaba Gaolathe said it was premature to assume that they, as the opposition, have allowed the DIS officers in Parliament.
“It is not something that we have embraced or accepted,” said Gaolathe.
The press conference was called to brief members of the media following the chaos that reigned in Parliament on Monday after UDC’s Gaborone Central MP Phenyo Butale was manhandled by security personnel.
Prior to the brutality against Butale, the deputy speaker Kagiso Molatlhegi had ruled him out of order and ordered him out of the House.
Butale would have none of it and insisted that Parliament should discuss an urgent motion on water and power crisis as per Standing Order 50.
