Skelemani Urges Executive to Back Speaker’s Agenda

Former Speaker Phandu Skelemani has urged President Boko, his Cabinet and legislators to back Speaker Dithapelo Keorapetse’s push for an independent Parliament to strengthen Botswana’s democracy Former Speaker of the National Assembly Phandu Skelemani has thrown his weight behind Speaker Dithapelo Keorapetse’s campaign for an independent Parliament, calling on President Duma Boko and his Cabinet to support reforms that would free the legislature from executive control. Speaking to The Botswana Gazette on the sidelines of the official opening of Parliament’s legislative meeting this week, Skelemani said the time had come for Botswana to establish a Parliament that operates independently of the Executive, arguing that the move would strengthen the country’s democratic institutions. Skelemani said the debate over parliamentary independence is not new, having been discussed for decades during his time in the public service and later while serving as Speaker of the National Assembly.

He stressed that Parliament and the Executive are separate constitutional institutions with distinct responsibilities. “It has to be made clear that government and Parliament are two different institutions,” he said. Skelemani urged President Boko and his Cabinet to embrace the reforms championed by Keorapetse, saying an independent Parliament would enhance democratic governance rather than undermine the Executive.

The former Speaker expressed confidence that Keorapetse would succeed in advancing the reforms, describing the Speaker as a long-time advocate of parliamentary autonomy. According to Skelemani, Keorapetse consistently argued for an independent Parliament during his years as an opposition Member of Parliament, making the issue a long-standing principle rather than a recent political position. “I have no doubt that he will succeed because this is something he has always believed in,” Skelemani said. While supporting Parliament’s reform agenda, Skelemani cautioned lawmakers against raising public expectations they may not be able to meet.