In the House... The bright shine, the dull nod on
Gothataone Moeng | Friday December 20, 2013 15:19
Mephato Reatile (Ngwaketse West) : The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) MP who defected from the opposition Botswana National Front (BNF), had a good year that has endeared him to electorates. As head of a special parliamentary committee investigating maladministration at the Botswana Meat Commission, he and his team left no stone unturned in trying to figure out what went wrong at the parastatal whose wellbeing affects the majority of ordinary Batswana. As chair, he called in everybody from the Minister of Agriculture and his assistant to board members, to ordinary farmers to fully understand the mess that has brought the BMC to its knees.
Dumelang Saleshando (Gaborone Central): The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) MP is consistently one of the best performers in Parliament. Here is a legislator who takes his role seriously, is well informed about issues across board, ensuring intelligent debates from him, and is well informed about parliamentary procedures. The younger Saleshando is tireless when it comes to bringing motions to the House, although he is often defeated due to numbers. This year he seems to have been preoccupied with issues of land and housing, early in the year he brought a motion to Parliament asking for a comprehensive land audit, which was defeated, and he was scheduled to bring a motion asking for prioritising the Tenant Purchase Scheme at Botswana Housing Corporation.
Wynter Mmolotsi (Francistown South): The Francistown-West petition that brought the country to a standstill will be investigated thanks to Mmolotsi.
Although the Francistown South legislator had wanted Parliament to investigate, he had to concede after BDP MPs forced his hand into amending the motion to read that government will investigate.
An impulsive MP, Mmolotsi this year titillated Parliament and members of the public with threats to expose that the Directorate of Intelligence and Security funds the ruling party. He is also one of the intelligent debaters in Parliament. One of Mmolotsi’s notable motions this year was on the establishment of an Old People’s Home, which was approved.
Phillip Makgalemele (Shoshong): Makgalemele epitomises what a representative of the people should be.
Hardly a parliamentary meeting goes by without him asking a question relating specifically to his constituency. Whether it’s about poor roads in his constituency, or what projects the tourism ministry is undertaking in his district, Makgalemele ensures that he is always looking out for opportunities for his electorates. He is also one of the consistently present MPs in the House, and always up for debates. This year, his motion asking for the promulgation of a beneficiation law was defeated.
Nehemiah Modubule (Lobatse): Modubule ends a satisfactory year well, having just successfully convinced Parliament to support him in requesting government to establish an economic diversification unit for the town of Lobatse. He is one of the better-informed MPs and contributes to government proceedings with intelligent debates.
Prince Maele (Tswapong North): Although largely absent, in terms of debates, in the November session, Maele did well, also due to his participation in the Special Select Parliamentary Committee investigating the BMC. He was one of the bright sparks during the interrogations.
Gilson Saleshando: The older Saleshando’s debates are intelligent, however he takes away from his debates because of his personal barbs directed at MPs, which sometimes go beyond the affable parliamentary disses. As one of the oldest MPs in the House, he fully exploits the respect the younger legislatures. However, Saleshando needs to be applauded for constantly shaking up the establishment, rattling the status quo and demanding better treatment and recognition of non-Tswana speaking tribes of Botswana. In the July session he brought a motion to Parliament asking government to implement inclusive education – the teaching of mother-tongue languages at primary schools.
Kentse Rammidi (Kanye North): Another MP who has great ideas that are easily dismissible because of the abrasiveness of his debates. This year he suggested an alternative to President Ian Khama’s 5Ds; being Re-examine, Re-construct, Re-structure, Re-engineer and Re-plan for Recovery of the economy. The investigation into BMC this year happened because of a motion brought by Rammidi in 2012.
Slumber Tsogwane (Boteti North): Farmers across the country have Tsogwane to thank for the 50 percent nationwide subsidies on cattle feed. Late in the year, he brought an urgent motion to Parliament asking government to make urgent short-term interventions that have besieged the country. Before too long the Ministry of Agriculture announced the nationwide subsidies that farmers will hopefully take advantage of.
Bagalatia Arone (Okavango): He endeared himself to younger voters late this year when he pushed a motion that government review tertiary students allowances.
The motion was deferred. Arone is another MP who speaks mostly for the marginalised and disenfranchised communities.
One of the most interesting questions he was scheduled to ask this year was on where the name Botswana comes from, and what it means for non-Tswana speaking groupings. He has often asked about the naming of Land-boards after ethnic groups.
Ten Worst Performers
Ngaka Ngaka (Letlhakeng West): Could it be a case of new-kid-on-the-block shyness for Ngaka? The newest member has not had any substantial debates in the House, has not asked any illuminating questions nor brought a motion. His seat might as well have been empty. Perhaps the New Year will bring with it a dose of bravery and recognition that he is representing people.
Liakat Kablay (Letlhakeng East): Kablay’s constituency is one of the most marginalised and poorest in the country.