21 Feb 2013

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Margret Nasha has lambasted Members of Parliament (MPs) for not respecting their electorate.

The speaker made these observations after Parliament was forced to adjourn because it did not form a quorum for the second time in four days.

After MPs approved the budget of P90 134 850 for Parliament, the majority of legislators started to trickle out of the Parliament until the house was left with only a few.

While this was happening, the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi was still on the floor presenting his budget proposals for the Ministry of State President. Hardly five minutes into his presentation, Parliament business had to end abruptly.

When adjourning the proceedings, Dr Nasha lashed out at MPs saying that they did not take their work seriously. She noted that what was surprising was that many of the MPs who left the house were always complaining that they were not taken seriously.

She said the MPs had shown that their priorities elsewhere, that was why they could abandon debating budget proposals which would lead to their electorate receiving services.

“Many MPs are touring the country addressing political rallies, others are attending to their respective parties’ political business at a time when we are supposed to debate the budget, and this is not acceptable,” she stressed.

Dr Nasha promised to reveal the names of all members who were not present in Parliament during the debate to show their electorate the kind of representatives they have sent to Parliament.  ENDS