21 Feb 2013

Some Members of Parliament have unanimously called for Parliament to be an independent body.

Debating the proposed budget estimate of P90 134 850 for the National Assembly recurrent budget for the 2013/14 financial year as presented by the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi on Wednesday, legislators were unanimous that Parliament should be allowed to function independently from the executive.

That, they argued, would bring Parliament to the level of other countries' parliaments. They also argued that it was necessary for Parliament to be responsible for making its own budget so that it could be able to profusely execute its mandate. The current status quo is such that Parliament falls under the Office of the President.

MPs also expressed concern about various issues such as the delay in the renovation of the parliamentary flats. They were of the view that assessment on refurbishing the flats to determine the scope or work could have been carried while MPs occupied the flats and expected that work should have already been started.

In his presentation, Mr Masisi told them that work was expected to commence at the beginning of the next financial year and that provision was made in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology maintenance budget for refurbishment of the parliamentary flats as well as the second phase of renovating the old Parliament buildings.

MPs expressed concern about about the security of the Parliament building arguing that most Commonwealth Parliaments had proper security. The legislators also expressed concern about the limited resources in their constituency offices and requested for vehicles to enable them to carry out their duties in the respective constituencies diligently like the executive.

In addition, they were worried about the delay in implementation of laws, policies as well as motions passed by Parliament thus called for a forum where they could be informed of progress on their enactment. While some supported the proposed budget, some MPs were of the view that it was insufficient.

However, they welcomed the setting up of portfolio committees which would undertake various oversight activities to improve accountability, transparency and promote participatory democracy in the governance system.  ENDS