28 Jul 2013

The primary mandate of Parliament is to make laws for peace, order and good government of Botswana, says Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration.

Responding to a parliamentary question, Dr Gloria Somolekae said this had been clearly pronounced under Section 86 of the Constitution of Botswana. Dr Somolekae however noted that under Section 87 of the Constitution, the President could, for example, withhold his or her assent to a bill passed by the National Assembly, while the National Assembly under the same section was empowered to override the said refusal.

She further said the National Assembly was also empowered to pass a motion of no confidence in the government of the day, while the President was empowered to dissolve Parliament. “That being the position, in the context of Botswana, the use of the word overrule is inappropriate in the sense that the law provides for checks and balances in the execution of duty by the three arms of the state,” said the assistant minister.

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi had wanted to know whether the President was empowered by law to overrule Parliament. ENDS