Opposition chief whip Wynter Mmolotsi recently requested the Speaker of the National Assembly Gladys Kokorwe to ask the Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi to take his duties seriously.
Mmolotsi said since Masisi took over the reins of leadership of the house nothing is on track.
“Let me express my worry with the conduct of the Leader of the House and his team. During Vice Presidents Ponatshego Kedikilwe and Mompati Merafhe’s time, they made sure that when the minister is not available in Parliament somebody will act on their position and respond to questions on the floor of parliament. Please I implore you to request the Leader of the House to take his duties seriously. The Leader of the House does not take this House seriously,” Mmolotsi told Parliament on Friday.
The Opposition also wants Masisi to explain where he got the name of an opposition legislator whom he is claiming nominated the name of Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Secretary General Botsalo Ntuane during the process of filling the vacant position of Specially Elected MP.
This comes after the Vice President signed a press release on Thursday saying his party agreed on the name of Eric Molale during the party caucus and there was no how one of them could have nominated the name of Botsalo Ntuane.
Masisi further stated in the release that they found out that the opposition member in question nominated the name of Botsalo Ntuane without his consent nor reference to him
“During the nomination process on the parliamentary floor the name of Botsalo Ntuane was nominated by an opposition legislator. Clearly the mischief making by the opposition legislator was meant to sow discord within BDP ranks in the mistaken belief that there would be a vote split between the two BDP names of Molale and Ntuane.” Masisi wrote in his statement.
Opposition did not take part in the elections of specially elected MP, they demanded to know the names of MPs who Nominated Botsalo Ntuane and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) President Dumelang Saleshando.
The opposition wanted the Speaker of the National Assembly to do the same by announcing the names of MPs who nominated Ntuane and Saleshando just like she did when she announced that Eric Molale was nominated by President Ian Khama while Shampoo Matshidiso from the opposition side was nominated by Wynter Mmolotsi.
On that day Masisi stood on a point of procedure and explained that it was not important to disclose the names of MPs who nominated the names of Saleshando and Ntuane for specially elected position. Opposition is surprised that the same Masisi wrote a release now accusing one of them to have nominated the name of Ntuane.
“The speaker made a ruling at that point that she was not going to say the names of the MPs who nominated the names of Saleshando and Ntuane for specially elected position. Masisi’s statement is disturbing; the speaker of the national Assembly is the only one with the names of those who nominated the names of Saleshando and Ntuane. We want the VP to explain where he got the name of the opposition legislator who he is claiming nominated the name of Ntuane during the process of filling the vacant position of specially elected MP,” MP for Gabane- Mankgodi Pius Mokgware challenged Masisi.
Mokgware said Vice President’s statement is tarnishing the good name of opposition parties. The speaker of the National Assembly said the matter could not be discussed in Parliament because Masisi was absent; she then referred the matter to the general assembly.
