Parliament business was temporarily disrupted on Monday as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Francistown South; Wynter Mmolotsi demanded that his parliamentary questions be answered.
The MP had directed the question to the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Ramadeluka Seretse who was mot in parliament.
For the third week in a row, Minister Seretse has not been attending parliament.
This has irked the Francistown legislator who charged that parliamentary business had come to a halt because Seretse is battling to save his political career.
Seretse and his rival, Kgotla Autlwetse are engaged in a fierce political battle and with a rerun looming in the BDP primaries for the Serowe North East constituency Seretse’s ministry has not been responding to parliamentary questions.
“I initially agreed with the minister to postpone the questions to a later date…but for the third week in a row this is weighing heavily on me,” said Mmolotsi.
He added: “Parliament business can not be sacrificed over a BDP member who is fighting for his political life.”
Speaker of Parliament Margaret Nasha is also not amused. She revealed that she had also observed that Seretse’s questions remain unanswered.
“I have seen the questions and they do not need a rocket scientist,” Nasha said, adding that many a times she has explained procedure in Parliament.
Nasha said she wondered why Seretse would not delegate the role to a colleague in cabinet since parliamentary responses are prepared by the ministry heads.
“Unless the delegated minister does not want to assist or he is confronted with difficult questions,” she advised.
Meanwhile Vice President Ponatshego Kedikilwe has assured Parliament that MP Mmolotsi’s questions will be answered this week.
Mmolotsi had asked Seretse to state progress made regarding the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Welfare Fund which was discontinued more than a year ago.
He also wanted him to state whether soldiers are still made to contribute to this fund.
In another parliamentary question, the legislator asked Seretse to update parliament on progress made on the delinking exercise.
