Tshekedi disqualified as MP
Pini Bothoko | Monday April 24, 2023 06:00
The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Pono Moatlhodi confirmed the disqualification meaning that BPF’s representation reduced in Parliament and the area does not have an MP. In an interview with Mmegi, Moatlhodi explained that Standing Order 16.2 was clear that should a member fail to attend two consecutive sessions of Parliament his seat will be automatically declared vacant.
“Is clear as crystal if an MP fails to attend two consecutive Parliamentary sessions his seat will be automatically declared vacant and it is what happened with Khama. He has not been attending Parliament sessions, he did not send any apology, no explanations at all hence the law had to take its course,” Moatlhodi clarified.
Khama won the constituency under the BPF in 2019 general election with 4394 votes beating Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)’s Moemedi Dijeng (2405 votes) and Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC)’s Roland Kambula who got 749 votes. On the eve of the election Tshekedi defected from the BDP to join his older brother and former president Ian Khama’s then newly founded BPF.
Tshekedi who is the BPF Secretary-General (SG) has been in South Africa since last year after he and his wife, Thea Khama and his twin brother Anthony were detained by the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) over alleged possession of weapons of war.
Together with his brother, Ian and their other family members are currently living in South Africa (SA) because they say they fear being persecuted by the Masisi government. Following these developments Mmegi asked Khama’s co-BPF MP for Serowe North, Baratiwa Mathoothe what Tshekedi’s disqualification means for their numbers in Parliament. Mathoothe was disappointed saying as MPs they had to learn about the developments circulating on social media like everyone.
“There was no communication at all, we have not been notified about these developments as MPs. Surprisingly we have a WhatsApp group as MPs that we always receive any type of communication from but with Tshekedi’s matter the group was just silent, we were not notified and I am shocked and wondering what could it means. We just saw it circulating on social media. I am disappointed that the Deputy Speaker, Moatlhodi did find it appropriate to inform us as MPs before we could hear about our colleague’ disqualification in the news,” Mathoothe said.
Mathoothe said after he learnt about Tshekedi’s disqualification he contacted him and he (Tshekedi) was not aware of the development and indicated that he had not received any notification from the National Assembly. He further stated that Tshekedi once wrote a letter to the National Assembly explaining why he is outside the country and not attending Parliament but the letter that was never replied.
“In addition, his office is operational, office employers are on duty and just like us MPs they have not been notified about this move too,” Mathoothe said. However, Mathoothe revealed that he had contacted the Leader of the Opposition (LOO), Dithapelo Keorapetse requesting him to ask the National Assembly if indeed Tshekedi has been disqualified as an MP. “It might be true but they could have notified us (MPs) first as his colleagues rather than us hearing about it in the news. We have to be notifed as MPs because the development means there is a vacant post and it is even close to me more because we are in the same party and from the same area,” Mathoothe said.