Saleshando, Speaker Clash Over Constituency Allowances

A clash has erupted between Opposition Leader Dumelang Saleshando and Speaker of the National Assembly Dithapelo Keorapetse over a proposed Bill seeking to scrap constituency allowances for the President, Speaker and Specially Elected MPs A dispute has erupted between the Leader of Opposition and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) president Dumelang Saleshando and Speaker of the National Assembly Dithapelo Keorapetse over Saleshando ‘s bid to abolish constituency allowances for the President, the Speaker and Specially Elected Members of Parliament (SEMPs). Speaking during the BCP Congress Saleshando accused the Speaker of repeatedly frustrating the Bill by demanding corrections and amendments, which he claims have delayed its publication and prevented it from reaching Parliament for consideration. Asked for clarity in an interview with this publication, Saleshando alleged that the Bill had been blocked from publication on two occasions.

“Twice the Speaker blocked the Bill from being published,” Saleshando told this publication However, Keorapetse has rejected the allegations, insisting that the Bill is undergoing the standard parliamentary procedures required for private members’ Bills. The Speaker said the Bill submitted by Saleshando was being processed in accordance with Standing Orders 71.8 and 71.9, adding that the procedures were neither politically motivated nor specifically targeted at the opposition leader. Keorapetse said the same procedures applied to all Members of Parliament seeking to introduce similar legislation.

“The appropriate channels are not only being applied to Honourable Saleshando but to all Honourable Members who have brought requests under the same Bill,” he said. He cited the case of Galenawabo Lekau, a non-opposition MP, whose Bill is also undergoing the same process. The Speaker further said that neither Saleshando nor the BCP had formally raised concerns with his office through the appropriate parliamentary channels before making the allegations publicly. “Parliament is not aware of any formally raised concerns through the parliamentary channels requiring redress from the Leader of Opposition or any representative of the Botswana Congress Party,” Keorapetse said.