18 Apr 2017

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Gladys Kokorwe says she was pleased with Parliament productivity during the just ended budget sitting.

The Speaker said apart from debating and approving government ministries’ budget proposals for the 2017/18 financial year, the house also debated several bills and adopted four motions.

Furthermore, 334 out of 474 questions noticed by MPs were answered by ministers.

Among the bills passed were the Immigration Amendment Bill, Court of Appeal Amendment Bill, and the President’s Pensions and Retirement Benefits Bill.

Among the motions adopted were two proposed by Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi. The other one was on the introduction of dual citizenship while the other was on the transfer of plots to beneficiaries of deceased applicants.

Furthermore, the motion on the reintroduction of the service of emptying pit latrines by government, which was proposed by Gaborone Central MP, Dr Phenyo Butale was adopted as well as the one on the establishment of a BIUST campus in Selebi Phikwe which was proposed by Selebi Phikwe West, MP Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse.

“Parliament was very active during this session. Parliamentarians asked many questions to cabinet ministers on issues relating to their constituencies. Through these questions they were getting feedback for their constituents and I was happy that many questions were answered,” Ms Kokorwe said last week.

She further pointed out that the presentation of a private member’s bill by Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Keorapetse also indicated that MPs took their work seriously.

“I was happy with Honourable Keorapetse who tabled a private members bill proposing amendments to the Botswana Defence Force, Police and Prisons Acts. He has tabled the amendment bills for first reading and will explain himself further during the second reading,” she said, adding that the amendment bill would be debated in the next sitting of Parliament.

She said the National Assembly Salaries and Allowances Bill and the Specified Offices Bill would also be debated during the July sitting of Parliament.

The Speaker also said the Tribal Land Bill and Deeds Registry Bill have been referred to Ntlo ya Dikgosi for input.

Ms Kokorwe, however, said she was concerned by issues of quorum in Parliament: “We have a problem of quorum and the issue usually affects us on Fridays (when motions are supposed to be debated). We usually start the business well, but later MPs start leaving causing the quorum collapse.”

Concerning extension of Parliament business until midnight which happened on two days during the last sitting, she said it was procedural because the standing orders provided for that. She said the hours of business could be extended to allow Parliament to finish debating a bill or any business which may be pertinent. BOPA