The Speaker, impartiality and reform

The office became especially controversial and became a key aspect of the legal battle that ensued just after the 2014 general elections. The seats of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker were hotly contested after the general elections; the tradition has been that the ruling party meets at their caucus to nominate and or finalize persons to fill up the office and Parliament would rubberstamp that decision.

However, in 2014, the opposition nominated Dr Margaret Nasha for the position of Speaker and Abraham Kesupile for the position of Deputy Speaker. After the conclusion of the infamous “hands up” or “lehenza” court case, the duo competed against President Ian Khama and the ruling party’s favorite candidates, Gladys Kokorwe and Kagiso Molatlhegi. The latter won as is common knowledge.