05 Nov 2019

The different political parties represented in Parliament displayed mixed reaction to the selection of the six Specially Elected Members of Parliament (SEMPs), Mr

Kgotla Autlwetse, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila, Dr Unity Dow, Ms Peggy Serame, Ms Philda Kereng and Ms Beauty Manake.

Speaking after the parliamentary session convened by the acting Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Kagiso Molatlhegi on Monday, which elected the six after they were nominated by the President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, representatives of the two main political parties expressed differing views.

Mr Liakat Kablay, the Member of Parliament elect for Letlhakane-Lephephe, who was the chief whip of the governing Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in the eleventh Parliament between 2014 and 2019, said the BDP endorsed the decision of the president.

“We have been made to believe that these are experienced people in different fields such as trade and others, who have different skills and could benefit the country in government.

We believe the president made a wise decision in picking these different representatives to augment those elected members we already have,” Mr Kablay said.

Although he was pleased to see women and youth being part of those who have been specially elected, Mr Kablay said he had personally hoped that people living with disabilities would also be considered.

Nonetheless, Mr Kablay said he was delighted with the overall representation that the BDP would have from the 38 MPs who entered Parliament through the electoral process of the general elections as well as the six SEMPs.

“We have good representation, but what is important is for us to deliver to the people.

We have a lot of new faces in this Parliament, and many of them will get to become cabinet ministers, and they need to be accountable to the nation and to the electorates, they should work with MPs from the different constituencies to address the challenges faced by our people,” Mr Kablay said.

The vice president of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and Maun West MP elect, Mr Dumelang Saleshando, said they chose to abstain from voting for the six SEMPs since there had not been consulted on the choice of SEMPs, and they were unaware of some of their identities and backgrounds.

“We had suggested that there should be an agreement that some of the SEMPs should come from us, since the opposition got just under 50 per cent of the popular vote.

But, the BDP did not agree to this, and the president in making his choice did not consult us.

The president had promised to foster inclusion, but this was a winner takes all approach, which is why we did not endorse the process by abstaining,” Mr Saleshando said.

He further said there was no point in them nominating their own list of SEMPs as it is provided for in parliamentary procedure since the BDP caucus had already agreed on their choice and would use their numbers to endorse their candidates. ENDS