Contributing to a debate on a bill that seeks to increase the number of specially elected members of parliament from four to eight yesterday, the MP for Tonota, Pono Moatlhodi broke ranks with his party and attacked women for seeking “special treatment” over and above elected male MPs.
The bill emanates from a motion tabled by the MP for Mahalapye East, Botlhogile Tshireletso last February seeking a constitutional amendment to cater for women whose numbers have fallen drastically in Parliament.
It is sponsored by Margaret Nasha, a Specially Elected MP who has made a remarkable rise to become Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, arguably the second-most powerful portfolio.
Moatlhodi said the people of Tonota South had made it clear that they were against the proposed increase because it would milk the economy when there was shortage of social services such as hospitals. “My people say they want a hospital in Tonota,” he said.
Moatlhodi, whom President Ian Khama threatened to remove from Parliament after he complained about what he called militarisation of the public service last year, said that he would not be deterred from speaking for his constituents and exercising his freedom of expression since Botswana was what it was today because of tolerance of one another’s views. “Gatwe mmua lebe o bua la gagwe go re mona lentle a le tswe,” he said
Moatlhodi disclosed that when his political career was under threat then, prominent citizens – among them former president Ketumile Masire and former minister Dr Gaositwe Chiepe – saved him. He characterised Masire as a wise man who had mediated in serious conflicts in Africa arising from unfair allocation of parliamentary seats after elections.
If the government recently cut the privileges and travel budget for MPs on the grounds that there was no money, where would the money to pay additional MPs come from?, he queried.
Moatlhodi called for wide consultation on the issue: “If we can go out and consult people about the importance of the death penalty, why can’t we do the same with increasing MPs from four to eight?,” he charged, adding that “even Jesus got advice from his disciples”.
He said what was painful was that seats for specially elected MPs were usually given to rich women at the expense of those who had worked hard for the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). “What is so special about these women? If the kitchen is too hot for women politicians, they must get out. We must all reap what we sow,” he argued.
In a 55-minute long contribution, Moatlhodi said even the founding president of the republic, Sir Seretse Khama, had wanted Parliament to be made up elected representatives rather thatn individuals chosen by a single person.
Besides, the pioneers of the Westminster system that Botswana has copied, the United Kingdom, had stopped the practice of specially elected members 50 years ago.
“We are now diluting the democracy that (Seretse) left for us,” Moatlhodi said.
“This is not right.” He added that he was aware of some members who were already preparing themselves to be brought back to the House by means of the unfair system.
The MP for Lobatse, Nehemiah Modubule (BNF) also rejected the motion, saying the BDP was in a state of panic because it could lose a number of seats in the next elections.
Modubule said the bill should wait for the comprehensive constitutional review Nasha had spoken of recently. He was still speaking at the time of going to press.
Mmegi Online
Post published in: Uncategorized