10 Parliaments...what a milestone!
Source : Kutlwano
Author : Baleseng Batlotleng
Location : GABORONE
Event : Interview
Before independence the country was administered by the British through the Legislative Council (LEGCO) whose demise came at the attainment of self-rule in 1966. Parliament itself was inaugurated on the 23rd March 1965.
Eighteen months after the first general elections the then Bechuanaland Protectorate gained independence under the Republican Constitution and from that date the legislative body assumed the present name of the National Assembly.
According to records, the first Speaker of the National Assembly was Dr Alfred Merriweather who was also the Speaker during the life of the LEGCO.
He retired in 1968 when Reverend Albert Lock, who was regarded as the longest serving Speaker in the House, succeeded him. Other Speakers of the house were James Haskins, Moutlakgola Nwako, Matlapeng Ray Molomo and Patrick Balopi.
The present Speaker of the just ended tenth Parliament is Margaret Nasha who also engraved her name in the annals of history becoming the first woman to assume the seat of the Speaker.
She took over from Balopi who was in charge of the ninth Parliament. The Leader of the House is outgoing Vice President Ponatshego Kedikilwe who is also defined as the chief spokesperson of government in the house.
The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has ruled the country ever since the first general election to date under the presidency of the Late Sir Seretse Khama (1966-1980), Sir Ketumile Masire (1980-1998), Festus Mogae (1998-2008) and lately Lt General Seretse Khama Ian Khama.
The country has not yet met the required 30 per cent female representation in Parliament. Before 1974 there was neither a female parliamentarian nor Member of Parliament. In 1977 during the Serowe bye election, Gaositwe Chiepe contested and won a parliamentary seat.
By 1999 Botswana had about seven female MP`s. Today Botswana has six female MP`s. Botswana Congress Party`s (BCP) Habaudi Hobona became the first female MP from the opposition ranks.
She came to Parliament after a bye election following the death of Francistown West MP, Tshelang Masisi of the BDP. Perhaps it would be worth noting that the last seating of the house had its own characteristics which will be remembered as history unfolds.
In it`s almost five decades of existence it was for the first time that a set of families were in the house. Outgoing Selibe Phikwe West MP, Gilson Saleshando and his son Gaborone Central`s incumbent MP, Dumelang Saleshando, late Francistown West MP Tshelang Masisi and his brother, acting Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mokgweetsi Masisi and lastly Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Tshekedi Khama and President Khama.
Another memorable event will be the absence of at least six cabinet ministers, Phandu Skelemani, Dikgakgamatso Seretse, Peter Siele, Lebonaamang Mokalake, Gloria Somolekae and Reverend Dr John Seakgosing who were voted out during their party`s primary elections.
Lobatse MP, Nehemiah Modubule, also made history when he became the first independent candidate to win Parliamentary elections.
From 34 elected and four specially elected members (38) in 1966 the Assembly now has 57 elected and four specially elected members (61).
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PARLIAMENT
Parliament consists of the President and a National Assembly whose life is five years. Normally there five sessions of a Parliament. A session lasts a year. Each session has three Meetings.
The first is the November/ December meeting which is the official opening of Parliament that starts with the State of the Nation address by the President. The second meeting is the budget meeting that starts with the budget speech presented by the Minister of Finance and Development Planning. The third is a general meeting where general business of the house is discussed.
The National Assembly forms part of the Legislature which comprises the President, Ntlo ya Dikgosi and the Attorney General. The house makes laws and approves the national budget.
A Bill is a proposed law or a proposed amendment to an existing law. It is the initiative of either a Ministry or an MP. A bill that has been brought to Parliament goes through First Reading - when it is presented without any debate, Second Reading - when the general principles of a bill are discussed and members do not go into details of the bill`s clauses, Committee Stage - a bills is dealt with clause by clause,
Third Reading- when a bill is passed in the house and then after being passed it is authenticated by the Clerk and sent to the President for assent. Ends
Teaser:
When President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama announced Parliament would dissolve on August 29, it was the tenth such announcement in the history of the house. In fact, when Batswana went to the polls in 2009 they were electing the tenth Parliament in the nation`s history, the first one being in 1965. Today Botswana boasts 49 years of popular Parliamentary democracy.
