29 Nov 2021

The motion that the Leader of Opposition, Mr Dumelang Saleshando tabled on Friday calling on the National Assembly to declare that it had no confidence in the government of the day was dismissed for supposedly seeking to circumvent the lawful process of forming a government.

Debating the motion, Good Hope/Mabule MP, Mr Eric Molale said it was a threat to the culture of respect for the Constitution that Botswana had a long history of upholding.

Mr Molale stated that it was improper and unwise to seek to throw out a duly constituted government, particularly given the steep cost that forming a government.

Also opposing the motion, Kanye South MP, Dr Lemogang Kwape expressed disappointment that while other countries were singing praises of Botswana’s track record of good governance, the opposition held opinions contrary to that.

Labelling the motion as hypocritical, Dr Kwape said the opposition was being unnecessarily difficult by complaining regardless of how much government was doing to practice good governance.

He said if the opposition felt that President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and his government had committed some crimes, they should seek recourse from the courts of law.

MP for Shashe West, Mr Fidelis Molao also opposed the motion, alleging that there was an invisible hand behind the opposition’s persistent attempts to unseat  the President. Also echoing the allegation of unseen forces sponsoring the opposition to remove the President from office, Gaborone South MP, Mr Dumezweni Mthimkhulu said the number of attempts to disrupt Dr Masisi’s tenure of office were worrying.

Mr Mthimkhulu said the motion lacked substance and was centred on baseless allegations.

He said there had been a change in the delivery of government projects under Dr Masisi’s presidency.

He said a precedent of public projects being delivered on time and within budget was visible.

Mogoditshane MP, Mr Tumiso Rakgare also dismissed the motion, accusing the opposition of wanting to assume power at all costs.

He said it was worrying that some MPs were using the House to denigrate the President and not to contribute to the building of good governance.

In support of the motion, Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said President Masisi had taken several bad decisions.

Mr Mmolotsi stated that the President had recently launched an attack on the church, accusing pastors of having fallen silent when the country was grappling with COVID-19.

He said for the President to disparage a body that derived its existence from the Constitution spoke volumes of his stature as a leader.

Mr Mmolotsi also alleged that since the President’s ascension to power, the appointment of high ranking public officers was being done along regional lines.

Okavango MP, Mr Kenny Kapinga labelled government as financially imprudent, saying it had taken some bad financial decisions at a time when the country was faced with a pandemic.

He cited the purchasing of a P58-million hotel in Ghanzi, he said government had been a bad custodian of public funds.

The legislator further accused government of lacking respect for due process, saying for the Directorate of Intelligence Services to be conducting criminal investigations without the backing of the law and government turning a blind eye to that was proof of the latter’s disrespect for due processes.

Mr Kapinga alleged that government had no respect for meritocracy, saying of late certain key appointments were made not on merit, but on the basis of appointees being female. BOPA