Members of Parliament who serve on the Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security are not permitted to brief their political party leaders on the business of the committee.
The acting Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Edwin Batshu, has said this is because the information relating to the policy, administration and expenditure of the Directorate of Intelligence Service (DIS) which members of the Committee have access to in the discharge of their mandate, is classified and cannot be disclosed or discussed outside the Committee.
Batshu said in order to guard against uncontrolled disclosures, which could harm national security and interest, members are required to subscribe to an oath or affirmation of secrecy to ensure that they do not, without due authority, disclose classified information or any other information which came to their knowledge by reason of their membership.