Dr. Dow hits back at BDP
Specially-Elected Member of Parliament, Dr. Unity Dow has taken a swipe at her party and its leadership, Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) over her alleged defiance of a Parliament caucus resolution.
Dr. Dow has been charged with misconduct and is expected to appear before a disciplinary committee after she was asked to show cause why action cannot be taken against her. The charges come after Government Whip Liakat Kably filed a complaint against her.
According to Dr. Dow, allegation that a party caucus was convened on the 14th March 2023 at which it was decided that Kgosi Mosadi Seboko would be “removed” from the Pan African Parliament (PAP) is totally untrue.
Instead, she says a General Assembly was held on the 14th March, at which, in her absence, the Speaker announced that Kgosi Mosadi Seboko had resigned from PAP.
“I first heard about Kgosi Mosadi’s purported resignation at the General Assembly, not at a party caucus. I deny that my actions constitute behaviour calculated to bring the party name into disrepute. Quite to the contrary, my conduct was motivated by a desire to right a wrong and to give the Speaker an opportunity to correct an error.
“Such can only enhance the party’s reputation. It is common cause between the parties that there are procedures regulating the creation of vacancies at PAP. It is common cause between the parties that Hon Moagi has publicly stated that not only was there no caucus decision to 'remove' Kgosi Mosadi, but that he voted with the opposition against the attempted removal.
“It is still unclear to me to this day why a vacancy was declared when none existed and why the incumbent must be 'removed', seemingly, at all cost. The cost, is in fact, the reputation of the party,” Dr. Dow said.
Regarding the utterances contravening President Mokgweetsi Masisi, the MP said she understands the charge to be that she differed with the President on the issue of the role of the Attorney General and on the specific issue of who takes instructions from who, as between the Attorney General and the President.
Dr. Dow who is also a former minister avers that as long as “we live in a democracy, the complainant must expect debates and debate, by definition, means offering arguments and counter-arguments.” Kably should not be allowed to censor her debates in parliament, she pleaded.
“The suggestion that no one is allowed to disagree with the President is a dangerous proposition and is totally at odds with what one expects in a democracy”, according to the legislator, who denied that her actions were in contravention of any rule or regulation.
Dr. Dow argued that her debates on the Attorney’s role was in response to Minister Machana Shamukuni’s presentation in Parliament and not in response to the President’s views, which she has since learned, were expressed at a press conference.
Dr. Dow considers it her duty to clear any misconception the public may have about the role of any office of the government.
“We habitually congratulate ourselves for being 'the beacon of democracy in Africa' precisely because we cherish the right to think and the freedom to express ourselves, both of which are enshrined in the nation’s Constitution.
“Hon Kablay must expect that every word that the President utters is open to examination, re-examination and analysis and fact-checking. That is the nature of politics. I deny each and every allegation stated in the complainant’s concluding paragraph and I request better and fuller particulars in respect thereto.
“The long and convoluted paragraph contains vague and sweeping statements that cannot be properly responded to as framed,” she argued.