11 Jul 2018

Parliament has rejected a motion of no confidence against President Mokgweetsi Masisi and his government, with 35 MPs voting against it, 11 in support while three abstained.

Tabling the motion on a matter of urgency on Tuesday, the leader of opposition and MP for Bonnington North, Advocate Duma Boko was of the view that President Masisi has since his assumption of the Office of the President, in his approach to national issues as well as key appointments into the public service, excluded certain competent and qualified individuals ostensibly on the basis of their regional and ethnic origins.

Adv. Boko claimed that the President was also directly implicated in the embezzlement of funds from the National Petroleum Funds and since he assumed office had failed to either explain his role or exonerate himself and take measures to reassure the nation of his non-involvement in the impropriety surrounding the NDF.

Presenting the motion, Adv. Boko had stated that the nation had lost confidence in President Masisi and his government and thus called upon the President to resign within four days of the passing of the motion.

He said the loss of confidence in the President had been brought about by several factors among which he cited poor approach to national issues such as key appointments into the public service.

Mentioning as cases in point the appointments of the Chief Justice and the director as well as the deputy director of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS), he said such appointments excluded certain competent and qualified individuals on the basis of their regional and ethnic origins.

He said regarding the appointment of the DISS leadership, President Masisi had appointed individuals who were facing accusations of impropriety on the basis of which the former President had removed them from the public service.

Adv. Boko also accused the President of having failed to act in accordance with Section 35 of the Constitution by not seeking the endorsement of Parliament following his ascension to the president on the automatic succession dispensation.

Additionally, the legislator said President Masisi had been implicated in diverting developments earmarked for other areas to Moshupa.

Debating the motion, Vice President Slumber Tsogwane, dismissed Adv. Boko’s argument that in his 100 days in office, President Masisi had not done much for Batswana.

Mr Tsogwane observed how happy Batswana were with the interventions that Mr Masisi had so far made, citing his continued engagement with the international community and touching base with leaders of neighbouring countries, since assuming office. The Vice President also indicated that the President had carried on with Batswana’s tradition of consultation.

Further, Mr Tsogwane noted that President Masisi had started engaging with opposition parties and trade unions; a move that he said was done by resuscitating the All Party Conference.

Dismissing the motion, Selebi Phikwe East MP and also Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Nonofo Molefhi said the motion was not only baseless, but was also tribalistic and could divide the nation. 

He however called on Batswana to desist from fuelling tribalism as it had the potential to reverse the gains the nation had so far made.

Mr Molefhi dismissed the statement by Adv. Boko that President Masisi was allocating resources and appointing people to positions of responsibility along tribal lines. 

He said the appointments Mr Masisi had so far carried out were based on merit.

Further, he noted that the motion would achieve nothing save to breed conflict between Mr Masisi and former President Lieutenant General Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama.

Mr Molefhi said the contention by Adv. Boko that the President was intent on reversing decisions made by Lt Gen. Dr Khama’s administration was wrong and therefore needed to be rejected.

He also disagreed that President Masisi was unfit to address corruption, as he had already assured the nation that he would do his utmost to root out corruption during his presidency.

Meanwhile, Sefhare-Ramokgonami MP, Ms Dorcas Makgato said the motion needed to be rejected as it was ‘a mischievous’ motion seeking to divert the attention from the crisis that the opposition parties were currently facing.

She dismissed the motion, adding that the majority of its content was based on unfounded allegations with no substance.

Shashe-West MP, Mr Fidelis Molao said the mover only wanted to divert attention from the problems besieging his political home.Mr Molao said it was unfortunate that the mover of the motion could come to Parliament with unsubstantiated allegations against the head of state to mislead the nation.

Mr Molao said the country had never since independence made appointments on the basis of tribal lines or ethnicity. He called for the rejection of the motion saying the mover was simply trying to score political points and playing to the gallery.

Bobonong legislator, Mr Shaw Kgathi also dismissed the motion, highlighting that President Masisi had proved his integrity over his 100 days in office.

He said President Masisi had made it clear that ‘he is a leader of consultation’ and had indicated that he would consult and make some reforms and eradicate certain bottlenecks that hindered progress.

However, MP for Molepolole South, Dr Tlamelo Mmatli embraced the motion, arguing that people should not be appointed to positions of responsibility along tribal lines, but on merit.

Dr Mmatli said people still had reservations regarding the President’s ability to revive the economy, create jobs, address corruption and generally turn the fortunes of the country around.

Such reservations, he claimed, stemmed from among others, the failure by Mr Masisi to guide and help the Economic Stimulus Programme to deliver on its mandate when he spearheaded the programme.

He said instead of bringing back into the public service people who had been removed, the President should be concerned with unemployment and unfair distribution of resources. BOPA