23 May 2017

There is no legal provision for members of the community to recall their member of parliament from office, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Gladys Kokorwe has said.

The Speaker, who was addressing a kgotla meeting in Gabane, Monday said a sitting member of parliament had a fixed five years term.

Ms Kokorwe was responding to a comment from Gabane resident, Mr Thube Letsholo who wanted to know how the community could expunge their MP when the legislator was underperforming.

Ms Kokorwe said such provision was not provided for in the constitution and added that if an MP had deserted the voters there was nothing that could be done other than to encourage and dialogue with the legislator.

“You elect an MP on a five year fixed contract, there is nothing you can do,” Ms Kokorwe acknowledged.

In any case, the community must wait for the legislator’s tenure to end and vote for someone else, she said.

Further, the Speaker said there was no legal provision stipulating the time frame for holding parliamentary seat bye-election if the sitting MP resigned or passed away

On other parliamentary business issues, the Speaker said they were revising the standing orders so that MPs forfeited their sitting allowance when removed from Parliament sitting.

She further encouraged residents to attend Parliament debates adding that 186 seats were available for the public.

 Ms Kokorwe said they were working hard to have Parliament sessions shown on the national television.The move, she stated would help the electorate to know how they were represented in Parliament.

Gabane-Mmankgodi constituency legislator, Major General Pius Mokgware pleaded with the Speaker to follow the issue of televising Parliament debates as well as empowering Parliament.
Maj. Gen. Mokgware said that would be the legacy that the National Assembly Speaker would have achieved during her five year tenure.

He emphasised the need for debates to be televised as that would give constituents the opportunity to see how their representatives performed.

Parliament is a battle ground for ideas and thoughts, Maj. Gen. Mokgware said, adding that legislators wanted their ideas and thoughts to take precedence over others.

Some residents complained that Parliament business should not be allowed to last until midnight.

Others said Parliament should be strengthened to be truly independent from the executive.  ENDS