MPs' workshop anticipated to improve Parliament overseeing roles

GOTHATAONE MOENG
Staff Writer | Wednesday May 15, 2013 00:00

 

Veteran British MP Sir Malcom Bruce is the facilitator of the workshop, which started yesterday and is expected to end today. Addressing the legislators before knuckling down to business, Bruce said the relative 'youth' of the Botswana Parliament is an advantage, as it can learn from the mistakes of older Parliaments. Bruce said being a leader is a challenging role.

He cautioned legislators from being 'glib' about issues that affect members of the public. He urged legislators to distinguish between power and influence. He said that while the party with the majority seats in Parliament holds power, those in the minority hold influence and should not be cowed from using their influence.

In his 30-year span as a parliamentarian, Bruce has been in opposition for 27 years. Bruce is expected to instruct legislators in sessions closed to the media, on tools for Parliamentary Oversight, the relationship between 'overseers' and 'overseen', the code of conduct of members entrusted with oversight and the role of parliamentarians in curbing corruption and ensuring good governance. Bruce has been the Liberal Democrat MP for the Aberdeenshire constituency since 1983.

During his Parliamentary stint, Bruce has been a member of several parliamentary committees including Trade and Industry, Treasury, and Standards and Privileges. He is currently Chair of the International Development Select Committee.

When welcoming legislators to the workshop, the Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Margaret Nasha expressed hope that the workshop would allow participants to exchange ideas on how to strengthen parliament's oversight activities. She added that the workshop would possibly assist the Botswana Parliament to improve on transparency, deal with emerging problems such as corruption, as well as overcome the mutual distrust between Parliament and Cabinet in order to work for a common goal.