07 Jul 2015

The winter Parliament session kicked off on Monday (July 6) with disruptions following a request by MP for Gaborone Central, Dr Phenyo Butale to table an urgent motion on water and electricity crisis.

The deputy speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Kagiso Molatlhegi, did not accede to the request, explaining that Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had already put on table a question on the same matter.

However, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) MPs were enraged by the speaker’s ruling, saying water and electricity issues were a serious matter that deserved urgency.

Chaos erupted when MP for Francistown South, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi persisted and challenged Mr Molatlhegi’s ruling on the matter. Mr Mmolotsi was ordered to leave parliament, something, which did not sit well with his colleagues.

As a result, Parliament was adjourned for a short time, but when it resumed nothing seemed to have changed from the UDC MPs, as they still wanted the issue to be discussed.
But, Mr Molatlhegi stood by his decision.

Mr Mmolotsi was escorted out of Parliament while Dr Butale was forcefully removed out of the house by security officers. That led to other UDC MPs walking out leaving only Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) MPs in the house to continue with the proceedings. Botswana Congress Party MPs also walked out.

Nonetheless, BDP MPs formed a quorum and therefore proceedings of the day continued. Meanwhile, the debate on the proposed Botswana National Land Policy continued as it was not concluded during the last sitting of parliament.

Bills tabled included the Private Security Services Bill, Special Economic Zones Bill and the Trade Dispute Bill. Ends