The impact of COVID-19 and the role of Parliaments in responding to national disasters

Parliament Building PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Parliament Building PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

It is a great honour and privilege to address the Parliamentary Clerks of SADC Parliaments on a matter of grave importance: the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the role of Parliaments in responding to national disasters.

History teaches that humanity has always been plagued by disasters and Covid-19 is most certainly not the last. It is therefore important to reflect on the role of Parliaments in responding to disasters using COVID-19 merely as a spring board, for present purposes.

In my considered view the duty of Parliamentary Clerks is to assist Parliament, its officers and members, to fulfill their constitutional and representative functions by rendering non-partisan, enlightened and authoritative procedural advice and guidance. If this departure point is true then it behooves the Clerks to understand the broad impact of COVID-19 on our societies and the role of Parliaments in responding to national disasters. As we all know Parliaments’ primary constitutional duty is to pass laws. It is for this reason that my presentation will focus on the legislative function in responding to disasters by giving a broad synopsis of what ought to be done.

Editor's Comment
Something ought to be done about deadly A3 Road

The accident which happened near Marapong village comes after yet another horrific accident which claimed 16 lives in July last year near Hubona. These stats don’t include other accidents where fatalities were not as many as the two.While several factors may have contributed to the two accidents and many others, many believe the biggest with that road is the bad state that the road is in. Unconfirmed reports in the most recent accident state...

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