Parliament has just sworn in Mr Mephato Reatile and Ms Bogolo Kenewendo as new specially elected Members of Parliament.

A total of 48 MPs participated in the duo's election this morning. Thirty three (33) legislators voted for Mr Reatile while Ms Kenewendo received 31 votes, while 11 abstained and four votes were spoilt.

The election of the two specially elected MPs followed amendment of Section 58 of the Constitution, which increased the number of specially elected members from four to six.

Speaker of National Assembly, Ms Gladys Kokorwe said Section (58)2 of the Constitution of Botswana provides that in addition to the President, the National Assembly shall consist of six specially elected members who shall be elected in accordance with the first schedule to the Constitution and subject therefore in accordance with the provisions of an act of Parliament.

“We are therefore gathered here today to fill in the two vacancies created by the amendment of Section 58 of the Constitution which increased the number of specially elected members from four to six,” she said.

Ms Kokorwe said the meeting was convened to implement the first schedule of the constitution that gave effect to the provisions of Section 58 whose clauses governed the election of specially elected members.

Such provision, she said, empowered the Speaker to call the election of specially elected members.

Ms Kenewendo is an economist, media commentator and policy analyst. She has been working as a trade economist in the ministry of trade and industry in Ghana and was previously employed as an economic consultant at Econsult Botswana.

She holds an MSc in International Economics from the University of Sussex in the UK and was a recipient of a Chevening Scholarship in 2012. She completed her BA in Economics at the University of Botswana.

Mr Reatile has been a specially elected councillor and chairperson of Southern District Council. He is also former MP for Jwaneng-Mabutsane. ENDS