14 Jul 2022

The draft code of conduct for Members of Parliament, formulated through the member’s rights and privileges committee, has been finalised and expected to be brought before Parliament in the near future.

Assistant Minister for State President, Mr Dumezweni Mthimkhulu told Parliament Wednesday that the document was intended to provide guidance on how members should best execute their duties in a respectable, honourable and responsible manner while upholding Botswana’s core values of Botho and Kagisano. He said the code of conduct would also be their guiding tool even outside Parliament.

“The code of conduct will ensure that MP’s serve their constituents with integrity and humility at all times, and most importantly the draft is a guiding tool on how members are supposed to honourably conduct themselves in and outside Parliament,” he said.

Mr Mthimkhulu added that it was important for MPs to maintain Botswana’s core values which have promoted harmony, peace and co-existence for Batswana. 

He said just like in social gatherings, it was imperative for such values to be promoted even inside Parliament.

“The values define who we are and what we should strive to be at all times so that we can co-exist harmoniously and peacefully and to thrive as a nation. We therefore cannot overemphasise the importance to inculcate these core values in our society at every available opportunity,” he said.

He also noted that the MP’s code of conduct would advise on actions to be taken on members who violated it.

“It is our hope that this intervention will assist greatly to promote the desirable conduct of honourable members to set a good example for the nation they are serving.”

Gaborone North MP, Mr Mpho Balopi had asked the minister to brief Parliament on steps taken to inculcate the core values of Botho and Kagisano in society, and whether government was not concerned that some forms of conduct and language displayed in the National Assembly was contrary to Botswana core values. 

The MP had also asked whether government would consider introducing stiff penalties for offensive conduct and language so that all leaders may be wary of the need to observe good decorum, especially in the era of live broadcast of Parliament, which may set a bad example to Batswana viewers.Ends