04 Aug 2020

Leader of the Opposition, Mr Dumelang Saleshando on Monday made an appearance at the National Assembly after the Gaborone High Court ordered that he could resume his attendance of parliamentary proceedings. 

Justice Godfrey Radijeng had earlier in the day ruled that the Maun West Member of Parliament   could continue participating in Parliament pending a later judicial review to assess the legality of the decision to suspend him.

Last week Tuesday, Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Phandu Skelemani invoked Section 60 of the Standing Orders of Parliament leading to Mr Saleshando being suspended from Parliament for a week after a majority vote by MPs for the Leader of the Opposition to be censured for disobeying the Speaker’s orders.

Mr Saleshando then lodged a case before the High Court seeking an order restraining and interdicting the Speaker from suspending him from sitting in the National Assembly pending a review of the proceedings that led to the suspension.

Upon hearing the arguments presented before him by Mr Saleshando’s legal team, Messrs Martin Dingake, Paul Muzimo and Justice Radijeng granted the interim interdict.

Mr Saleshando’s suspension was thus set aside and he could attend Parliament pending a judicial review of the suspension proceedings.

Justice Radijeng also announced that Mr Saleshando had 30 days to lodge that judicial review - a court proceeding where a judge or panel of judges evaluate the legitimacy of a decision made by a public body, in this instance Mr Saleshando’s week-long suspension by the Speaker.

Mr Radijeng said he would give comprehensive reasons for his ruling in two weeks’ time - Tuesday, August 18. 

In light of COVID-19 safety protocols, he excused the contesting parties from attendance, only instructing that copies of his judgment could be collected from 2pm of the said date.

The two respondents, the Attorney General in his representative capacity as the principal legal advisor to government, and the Speaker were asked to bear the costs of the application.

On Monday afternoon, Justice Radijeng’s order was read out to the sitting of the National Assembly by the Parliamentary Counsel, Ms Merapelo Mokgosi, and thereafter Deputy Speaker, Mr Mabuse Pule officially welcomed Mr Saleshando back to the assembly. Ends