Tensions anticipated during Parliament’s final leg
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday July 1, 2024 09:03
This is the last sitting of Parliament before the country goes to the polls, it will be dissolved in August or September 2024. Section 90 subsection 3 of the Constitution states that polls shall be held within 60 days following the dissolution of Parliament.
Consequently, each MP contesting the elections will aim to remain relevant to their voters in order to secure re-election.
Moreover, some legislators will use Parliament to sell their party manifestos, while others will tease those who lost their party’s primary elections, claiming it is their last chance to return to Parliament. Additionally, the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) members, leveraging on their numbers, will push motions that the party believe will endear them to voters.
Furthermore, those who are bitter that they may not make it to Parliament or feel betrayed by their parties will attack others, regardless of whether they belong to the same party or not.
It is expected that the sitting will be chaotic, and quorum will often not be formed as MPs and Cabinet Ministers will be campaigning in their constituencies. At this time, each politician is more concerned about constituents meeting those who elected them to Parliament, than with other matters. In fact, their constituents matter more to them than anything else this time around.
According to Parliament public relations officer, Silas Sehularo, during the winter session, the House is expected to conduct general parliamentary business, including bills, questions and motions.
The Leader of Opposition in the House, Dithapelo Keorapetse, also strongly affirmed that typically, during the last session of Parliament, incumbents who are not running for re-election—either because they lost the primaries or are retiring tend to reduce their participation as they prepare for life after Parliament.
“Those who lost in the primaries usually miss sessions or attend briefly. Quorum is often lost,” he said.
Therefore, campaign is heating up and MPs running for office would be busy with campaigns and would also be absent from time to time. Furthermore, Keorapetse said it is worse because the BDP hasn’t gone for its primary elections.
Moreover, he said what is expected to be interesting or crucial would be the party funding Bill in which the government will formalise party funding decision on how P34 million will be allocated for 2024 campaigns.
He said they gathered that equally foreign funding would be banned through the same Bill.
Additionally, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) would prioritise the Bill which they would bring before Parliament. Under the Bill, they want the Electoral Act to be amended.
They want the Act to provide for a transparent and corruption-free electoral process, to ensure the integrity of the elections, and thereby enhancing public participation and confidence in the electoral process.
Still in the same Bill, which was gazetted on April 5, 2024, the amendment is in alignment with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) stakeholders report, international observes, SADC principles and guidelines for democratic elections, SADC model law on elections, AU, Commonwealth, and EU standards.
For his part, the BDP chief whip Liakiat Kablay said this is going to be one of the challenging Parliament sessions since his party has not yet held primary elections.
“An MP cannot concentrate in Parliament while other people are busy de-campaigning us in our areas.
I am scared that MPs will keep on dodging so that they go and campaign.
“Normally, this Parliament fails to form a quorum due to different factors. Again, the government also bring important Bills during this time around,” he said.
Kablay added that what is not even clear is whether Parliament would be dissolved during its closure or when they are at their respective homes.
He also revealed that as for the BDP, they would ask their party to at least hold party primary elections before Parliament resumes in July so that House business is not disturbed.