09 Jul 2026

For the first time in history and in a move aimed at strengthening democratic governance, Parliament will formally inaugurate its legislative meeting with a dedicated opening ceremony.

The landmark ceremony will take place at the commencement of the Third Meeting of the Second Session of the 13th Parliament, commonly known as the Winter Parliament, scheduled to begin on July 13.

Designed around themes of symbolism, dignity and brevity, the new ceremony will feature addresses from the Speaker of the National Assembly, Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition.

The joint addresses are intended to demonstrate that both government and the opposition remain united in their constitutional responsibility to uphold parliamentary independence.

Opposition Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Maun West, Mr Carterpillar Hikuama, welcomed the initiative as a major step forward.

“This is a welcome development for our Parliament. As the opposition, we should embrace these changes as we move toward making Parliament more independent,” Mr Hikuama said.

He applauded the current Speaker of the National Assembly, Dithapelo Keorapetse, praising his progressive approach to parliamentary reform and leadership. He noted that the changes marked a significant and positive departure from traditional practices.

“The formal opening of the legislative meeting will set the tone for how the Speaker expects Members of Parliament to conduct business and it outlines what MPs should expect to see happening throughout the session,” he added.

He further noted that past parliaments were often heavily influenced by the Executive branch, which frequently predetermined how parliamentary business was conducted.

On one hand, Mr Hikuama stated that the opposition was gearing up to bring critical community issues to the floor.

“We will be focusing on bringing forward issues affecting our communities through Motions and Private Members Bills,” he said. ENDS