Kokorwe's sweeping powers

Speaker of National Assembly, Gladys Kokorwe has extended her powers to ensure that Members of Parliament do not abuse the Standing Orders.

Kokorwe announced last week Friday that in her effort to get control of Parliament she would now start switching off microphones of MPs who rise to disturb the proceeding of the house under the disguise that they are rising on a point of procedure or order. The speaker stated that she has noticed that some MPs abuse Point of Procedure and Point of Order.

Kokorwe made this announcement after MP for Francistown South, Wynter Mmolotsi expressed concern that whenever opposition MPs want to rise on a Point of Order or Procedure their microphones are switched off while this does not apply to Botswana Democratic Party MPs. “This is what I would be doing from now onwards.

I would be switching off microphones of anyone who rises on a point of procedure or order while once granted that opportunity they say something irrelevant. I am not only doing this for opposition MPs. I would also be doing the same for BDP MPs just wait and see, once they behave in such a way I would switch off their microphones”, said Kokorwe who stated that this is her official statement and should be on record.

Opposition has accused Kokorwe of being biased towards the ruling party. She has been accused of serving the interest of the BDP. Kokorwe has however on several occasions stated that she is impartial. This is not the first time Kokorwe is going hard on MPs. In July last year she told Parliament that she would be a no-nonsense leader, that she would not tolerate any uncalled for conduct by any MP.

She stated that the previous sessions were characterised by behaviour that was not honourable as should be the case. Kokorwe stated that in her 15 years as an MP she has never experienced such behaviour displayed by MPs in the current Parliament.