25 Jul 2024

The concept of Specially Elected Members of Parliament (SEMP) remains important in both the National Assembly and Cabinet as the MPs contribute immensely given their skills, expertise and competencies.

Answering a question in Parliament on Tuesday, the Minister for State President, Mr Kabo Morwaeng said as prescribed by law in the Constitution, the National Assembly consisted of elected and specially elected members.

Mr Morwaeng said the number of elected and specially elected members of the National Assembly had increased several times over the years with the last in 2005, where the number of elected members was increased to 57.

Mr Morwaeng said after Parliament dissolves at the end of the winter session, marking the end of the 12th Parliament, the number of MPs would increase to 61 as per the Delimitation of Constituencies Proclamation 2023 and the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2022.

Mr Morwaeng, who was responding to a question from Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi, said the number of SEMPs was increased from four to six in 2016.

He said the provision for SEMP was important as it promoted the inclusion of different groups of persons within the government of the day.

“History has shown that SEMPs have contributed immensely to both legislative and executive given their skills, expertise and competencies,” he said.

Mr Morwaeng noted that the same question had been asked before and the criticism of the system had always been that it was undemocratic.

“Considering our population size, the percentage of SEMP is relatively small to be viewed as impeding on the democratic process, moreover that the Constitution itself limits the involvement of SEMPs in certain matters of importance which matters only allow those who are elected members to take part,” he said.

Mr Morwaeng said in addition to their constituency portfolio responsibilities, Members of Parliament including SEMPs were assigned tasks under Parliamentary Standing Committees such as Southern Africa Development Community Parliamentary Forum and Pan African Parliament.

He said given their skills, competencies and expertise, SEMPs augmented the number of MPs with the view to enhance the legislative delivery in Parliament, participate and influence global Parliamentary developments.

The minister noted that the then Assistant Minister of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Phillip Makgalemele responding  to a similar question (Question 460) on March 24, 2015 still asked by Mr Mmolotsi, pointed out that payment of constituency allowance to SEMPs was provided for in an Act of Parliament.

Mr Morwaeng pointed out that SEMPs had always been instrumental in dealing with social, economic and developmental issues in various constituencies even when they were neither ministers nor MPs for such constituencies, therefore the constituency allowance was important to assist them in that regard.

Mr Mmolotsi had asked the minister to state why the country still needed SEMPs and why they were paid constituency allowance since they did not have constituencies. ENDS