The day will mark almost a year since the 11th Parliament started its work since October 2014 general elections. Members will between now and November consult their constituents, attend committee meetings, go on international trips to attend inter Parliamentary bodies meetings and other miscellaneous work. Prorogation of Parliament by the President will mark the end of the first session and all pending business shall terminate and lapse. Characteristic of the 11th Parliament there was drama on the day it adjourned as some members of Parliament from the opposition were thrown out by the Speaker of the National Assembly.
It has been a dramatic first session. Just after the 2014 polls, there was a marathon court case in which the Attorney General sued political parties represented in Parliament over the constitutionality of the Standing Orders in respect of voting for the Speaker and the Vice President. The case had more to do with the ruling party internal issues than any principle of law or democracy. The case was dismissed with costs. The Speaker, her Deputy and the Vice President were elected through a secret ballot against the wishes of the President. Subsequently the State of the Nation was presented and debated by MPs. It was as it is usually the case devoid of any substance in terms of real achievements on major problems facing Batswana. It was full of self praise and the President relished his fraudulent victory and basked on his glory. The victory was fraudulent in so far as he became President notwithstanding majority of the voters rejecting him.
