Moswaane clashes with Kokorwe again
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Ignatius Moswaane, Member of Parliament for Francistown West
The Member of Parliament for Francistown West, Ignatius Moswaane says he intends to have a private and sincere talk with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Gladys Kokorwe over their long standing differences and constant disagreements in the house.
The obviously frustrated MP revealed his intentions this week, shortly after the Speaker refused to let him interrupt a debate and threatened to throw him out of the house.
“I intend to arrange a meeting with the Speaker so that we can iron out our differences. Obviously she has issues with me and I do not have a clue as to what the cause of the problem is. I am an elected Member of the house and I do not have to always be denied the right to speak,” Moswaane revealed.
The clash between the two leaders of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) played out before the Thursday sitting when Moswaane wanted to rise on a point of procedure and Kokorwe refused to let him speak. The Speaker told Moswaane that he was wrong to rise while she was still holding the floor and explained to him that his action was completely unprocedural. However after she sat, she still would not allow Moswaane to rise on the same point as she said she had already overruled him.
A brief heated exchange ensued between the two and Moswaane felt that the Speaker was being unfair on him.
“I am beginning to believe that the Speaker hates me because I do not understand why she would not allow me to speak,” Moswaane had earlier said while in Parliament before he voluntarily walked out of the house.
The tension between Moswaane and the presiding offices of Parliament has been going on for several Months. Since the beginning of this year the Legislator who is serving his very first term in Parliament has been complaining that the Speaker and the deputy Speaker of the house, Kagiso Molatlhegi were ill-treating him. Even though the Presiding officers maintain that Moswaane is yet to learn and understand Parliament standing orders he still feels oppressed and abused.
“This has been going on for some time now. As you may recall, I suffered the same mistreatment when I tried to table motions in Parliament before. I do not want this to continue anymore, hence I want to arrange a meeting with the Speaker,” Moswaane further explained in this week’s interview.
Early this year the tension between Moswaane and the presiding officers escalated and caused Parliament to be adjourned after Moswaane went berserk and verbally attacked his own party leaders when the speaker would not allow him to table a motion in which he wanted the Botswana National Youth Council to be investigated for maladministration.
Moswaane, when in Parliament often break ranks with his party and at some point he wanted President Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama to come to Parliament and account whether or not he had fulfilled what he promised electorates during the past general election’s campaign. The motion that never saw the light of the day further wanted President Khama to account before MPs a number of tacky issues.
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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.