Botswana Congress Party President and Member of Parliament for Gaborone Central Dumelang Saleshando says that he intends presenting a private bill in Parliament asking for tabling of the Freedom of Information Bill and the Declaration of Assets Bill.”
Saleshando said he has decided to table the bills because the Minister of Presidential Affairs Mokgweetsi Masisi is seems reluctant to table them as he keeps on postponing their tabling.. “ After the latest postponements of the two bills , I think the only way to go now will be through presenting a private bill as I feel it is very important that the two bills are brought to Parliament and debated”, he said.
Saleshando who is also the leader of opposition in Parliament , said that the bills are important because they all seek to insure that there is transparency which is good for good governance. “Good governance is a very important aspect of a democratic society.
Having leaders declare their assets and giving the public full access to the information it needs will go a long way in insuring this”, he said. On why he thinks there is the delay in tabling the bills the Gaborone West legislator said that it could be that they are hiding something from the public. The motion asking for declaration of asserts by political leaders was first tabled by former Francistown Member of Parliament for Francistown Joy Phumaphi more than 10 years ago.
