07 Aug 2016

The bill sought to increase the number of specially elected members of Parliament from four to six as presented by the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Affairs, Mr Eric Molale.  The number of specially elected members of the National Assembly has remained at four for 49 years. 

However, over the years, the Constitution was amended to increase the number of elected members of the National Assembly and the ratio that started at one specially elected member to seven elected members has over the years become 1:14. Section 58 (2) (b) of the Constitution that provides that there shall be four specially elected members who shall be elected in accordance with the first schedule to the Constitution.

Mr Molale said the bill sought to provide that since the economy continued to grow in size and in complexity, the increase in number of specially elected members would provide a window of opportunity for the National Assembly, and by extension Cabinet, to increase the number of members with the necessary expertise and skills to manage a modern and complex economy. ENDS