This past week the National Assembly adopted the report on Botswana Development Corporation.
The report came about after lengthy investigations by Members of parliament.
The report, it has to be noted was the first of its kind in the history of Botswana’s parliament.
But the thoroughness as reflected in the report is indeed commendable.
Our hope is that it will get better with more investigations and more reports, as is currently the case with that which parliament is working on about Botswana Meant Commission.
The actions by Parliament to table the BDC report which will lead to Members discussing it highlights the extent to which our elected leaders and lawmakers appreciate the important role that the nation attaches to their mandate.
This is an exciting moment in the history of our country.
One of the country’s most important pillars of governance which had effectively been written off is finally finding its voice.
We have no idea why it is happening now, but once again Parliament is a relevant institution.
It may very well be a result of the current leadership given by Speaker, Margaret Nasha.
We take this opportunity to applause our Members of Parliament across the party and political divide.
Whatever the case, it is important that at long last Parliament is exerting its authority, its independence, its privileges and its rights as bestowed on it both the Constitution as well as the Parliamentary Standing orders.
Our view is that those implicated in the report should be charged.
They should face the wrath of the law.
We know that the Directorate on Corruption and economic Crime is currently seized with investigations.
The Minister of Trade, under whom BDC falls has said that those found to have done anything untoward will be held liable.
We wholly endorse and support her views.
What happened at BDC is totally unpardonable.
It should never be allowed to happen again under any circumstances.
As stated above currently the nation is watching with shock as news roll out on what happened at Botswana Meat Commission, which is not much different from what happened at BDC.
Our view is that were it not for whistle blowing at BDC, what is today public knowledge about BMC would still be under wraps.
The media has done a tremendous amount of knowledge to expose bad corporate governance at both organizations and for that they deserve credit.
We now call on the executive to do their part.
The least they can do is to ask any minister implicated to resign from cabinet as they embark on the process of clearing their name.
The current development under President Ian Khama where ministers are allowed to continue with their daily jobs even as they stand accused of crimes at the courts of law is untenable.
We hope it will not happen again, especially on BMC.
