MPs suspend proposed progressive parley reforms
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Longest serving Member of Parliament, also recognised as Father of the House in parliament, Slumber Tsogwane this week moved to prevent parliament from adopting what many MPs across the political aisle hailed as a progressive step towards parliament independence.
The constitution of Botswana grants parliament “the power to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of Botswana” and further grants parliament the power to regulate its own procedure. It is through Standing Orders that parliament guides it own procedure. Despite the proposed Standing Orders reforms enjoying support across the political parties, the Boteti West legislator vehemently opposed the reforms as he noted that most of them will cause unnecessary delays in the business of parliament. Tsogwane was against Standing Order 60.4 which compelled the Speaker to consult with party whips before suspending a member of services of the National Assembly.
This forced the speaker to immediately adjourn the proceedings and called an impromptu General Assembly meeting, of which a decision was reached to suspend adoption of the amendments pending further consultation with MPs. The General Assembly is a gathering of legislators and the Speaker of the National Assembly where the parliament business and procedures are discussed and agreed. Chaired by the maverick Tati East legislator, Samson Guma, prior to this week’s session MPs had a two day General Assembly meeting where MPs deliberated on the reforms.
THE PROPOSED REFORMS
Notwithstanding that the Speaker’s rulings during proceedings are final, he/she is stripped of using her discretion as the new provision compels him/her to be guided by his/her previous rulings, if such rulings have been approved by the Business Advisory Committee. This is unlike before when Speakers’ ruling were approved or reviewed by Standing Orders Committee, the Business Advisory Committee comprising Leader of the House (Vice President, Mokgweetsi Masisi), Leader of the Opposition (Duma Boko), Chief Whip (Liakat Kablay) and opposition whip (Wynter Mmolotsi) and the Speaker of the National Assembly. The Speaker of the National Assembly is however deprived the power of participation in the committee if her rulings are being reviewed by the committee.
Guma who also chairs the resilient Parliamentary Committee on Statutory Bodies and Public Enterprises, has seen Standing Orders Committee introducing a new committee called Committee on Government Assurances, which shall consist of a Chairperson and seven members. The committee is given the authority to exercise parliamentary oversight and scrutiny over assurances made by the government in parliament including execution of resolutions made in parliament. The committee is also empowered to sit during meetings of the House and as best as possible during times as do not coincide with the sitting of the House to consider urgent matters.
Previously there have been concerns that the executive, overly ignored motions passed by parliament on the basis that, motions, unlike bills are not binding and only act as advisory tools to government and government may only use its discretion to execute them. The introduction of the Committee on Government Assurances is seen as progressive and necessary to make government accountable for its own obligations.
While legislators, especially in the opposition benches and backbenchers had wished to see President Lt Gen Ian Khama appearing before parliament to answer to questions from MPs with regard to matters of national concern, the committee has resolved that, the Vice President, who is also Leader of the House, will step in for the duty instead. Standing Order 40 (B) resolves that there shall be asking of questions by Members to the Leader of the House on issues of national, regional and international importance every other Thursday.
Among the proponents of the President appearing before parliament to field questions from the ruling party is outspoken Francistown West MP, Ignatius Moswaane who has previously expressed that Khama should come before parliament to account to legislators.
The new standing orders also limit the number of motions which MPs can table in a meeting. MPs are only entitled to two motions per meeting except in a scenario where there are no more motions tabled by other members to be debated. In the previous set-up, motions where debated based on first come basis, meaning the house was at times saddled with the duty to debate consecutive motions belonging to one legislator casting other MPs out.
Amid good reception from MPs across the political divide, Duma Boko, who is the Leader of Opposition’s status, has been relegated. Boko previously enjoyed the same status as Leader of the House, Mokgweetsi Masisi and entitled to make statements on any matter of national importance. The new standing order number 9.3.4 states that “the time allotted to the Leader of the Opposition shall be less than the time allotted to the presenter of the State of Nation Address, the Budget Speech or any other major Government Policy, or the time allotted to the Leader of the House under the Standing Order.
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Malawi appeals for help over Cyclone Freddy at PAP
As of yesterday evening, the death toll from the Cyclone in Malawi had risen from the initially reported 190 to 225 in a short period of time, over 20 000 people have been displaced, and the worst of fears are yet to come as the fatalities continue to mount. This was reported by a Malawi Member of Parliament attending the Pan African Parliament session in Midrand, South Africa, Hon Steven Mikiya.
Mikiya was giving a statement on behalf of Malawi as the ongoing Pan African Parliament in South Africa.
Mikiya said the Cyclone has wreaked the most havoc in our country’s Southern Region. “The Southern Region, has been hardest hit with widespread heavy rains and strong winds. This caused a rapid rise in water levels and subsequent flooding. Meanwhile, power supply has been disrupted, roads blocked off and rendered impassable and mudslides have also been widely reported,” he said.
He made a special appeal to the PAP: “Where I come from, there is a parable which I would like to share with you which says, “mzako weniweni umamudziwa panthawi ya mavuto.” Simply put, a friend in need is a friend indeed or put loosely, a person who helps at a difficult time is a friend you can rely on.”
Mikiya continued: “Yes! Misfortune has knocked on our door and left in its wake a trail of death and destruction that may take years to fully recover from. However, amidst these difficulties, I have every reason to believe that sometimes when you are in a dark place and think you have been buried, you have actually been planted. My belief, Mr. President, arises out of my faith in this gathering and out of the conviction that it is not coincidental that Cyclone Freddy hit Malawi and Mozambique while the delegations of both countries are here.”
According to Mikiya, the level of destruction, the loss of life, property and the decimation of the entire fabric of established communities has been unprecedented. He noted that all this, is coming at a time when Malawi was starting to show signs of recovery from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that also came hard on the heels of Cyclone Ana and Cyclone Gombe that left a similar trail of devastation and destruction in Malawi and neighbouring countries.
As of Sunday, this week, from the 12th of March, Malawi and Mozambique have been facing the devastating effects of Cyclone Freddy that made a landfall over Mozambique on Saturday the 11th and reached Malawi by Sunday the 12th of March.
The Malawi legislator said he has absolute faith in the Pan African Parliament, which he described as “a league of nations brought together by a shared ancestry, history, identity as well as our beloved continent which we inhabit”.
Meanwhile, Malawi President, Lazarus Chakwera, has declared a State of Disaster in the affected areas effectively appealing for local and international support for the affected families.
Mikiya appealed to the Pan African Parliament drawing “positive” inspiration from Europe which rallied around Turkey after the destructive earthquakes to bring the much-needed relief and humanitarian aid to the people of Turkey.
He said Africa should demonstrate to the world that the African Union and its Organs are not mere talk shows, but effective institutions which stand up when it matters most.
“Alone, it may take us a lifetime to fully recover, but together, in the Pan-Africanist spirit of Ubuntu, our lives and livelihoods will return to a semblance of normality in record time. This is the time to live by our operative mantra, “One Africa, One Voice.” Mikiya concluded.