28 Jul 2016

Member of Parliament for Lerala-Maunatlala, Mr Prince Maele, says the number for specially elected MPs has always stood at four, while the population continued to grow.

Contributing to the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016 that seeks to increase the number of specially elected MPs from four to six, he said special elected MPs brought some expertise to Parliament.

Mr Maele, also lands and housing minister, said even if constituencies were to be increased, it did not guarantee that the voted MPs would bring in necessary skills required to enhance parliamentary debates.

‘’We need to increase specially elected MPs to strengthen our back bench,” he said.

Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskings Nkaigwa rejected the bill stating that he wondered as to why government was only now considering increasing specially elected MPs after disagreeing to the idea of increasing constituencies following the delimitation exercise.

He said the move was a sign of desperation that opposition was putting more pressure on the current leadership and opined that government should wait for 2019 elections to increase the number of specially elected MPs.

Mahalapye West legislator, Mr Joseph Molefe said he supported the bill as it would bring in credible people who would add value to Parliament deliberations.

Gabane-Mmankgodi MP, Maj. Gen. Pius Mokgware, who opposed the bill, said bringing in more MPs was a sign that government was intending to split some ministries, thereby weakening the already ineffective back bench.

He said he foresaw crisis even in composition of parliamentary committees because the executive would be given too much powers.

Maun West MP, Mr Tawana Moremi, said the idea to table the bill for increase of specially elected MPs was a sign that the ruling party did not have a choice among the available back bench MPs to fill in the

He said the current Parliament was endowed with knowledgeable people and there was no point to consider special election of MPs as that would unnecessarily increase the wage bill.

MP for Boteti East MP, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe supported the bill with reservations saying the executive would be more empowered while the back bench would be weakened, something which he said would compromise democracy.

He said composition of committees would also be disastrous because of lack of oversight by the weakened back bench.

Mogoditshane MP, Mr Sedirwa Kgoroba called for consultation of people who would be considered for nomination adding that he was aware that the ruling party would use its numerical strength to nominate people who would not add value to Parliament.

MP for Letlhakeng-Lephepe, Mr Liakat Kablay, said he supported the bill because special election of MPs would lead to split of some ministries that were overwhelmed, which he said would enhance delivery and improve implementation of government projects.

Jwaneng-Mabutsane MP, Mr Shaun Ntlhaile, opposed the bill saying it was overly empowering the executive to nominate specially elected MPs who would be paid back for their contribution to the ruling party. Ends