Africa-Press – Botswana. Parliament has elected Ms Boitumelo Gofhamodimo as the new Specially Elected Member of Parliament (SEMP).
A total of 47 MPs participated in the election February 21 with 34 voting in favour, 10 abstaining while there were two spoiled votes while one MP did not partake in the election process.
The election of Ms Gofhamodimo followed appointment of former SEMP and minister, Ms Philda Kereng as Botswana’s ambassador to Nigeria.
Prior to the election process, Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Phandu Skelemani explained that Section (58)2 of the Constitution of Botswana provides that in addition to the President, the National Assembly shall consist of six specially elected members who shall be elected in accordance with the first schedule to the Constitution and subject therefore in accordance with the provisions of an Act of Parliament.
“We are therefore gathered here today to fill in the sixth vacant seat created by the appointment of Ms Kereng to Nigeria,” Mr Skelemani said.
He said the meeting was convened to implement the first schedule of the constitution that gave effect to the provisions of Section 58, whose clauses governed the election of specially elected members.
Such provision, he said, empowers the Speaker to call the election of specially elected members.
Ms Gofhamodimo previously served at the SADC secretariat as the director of Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment.
She was also Sustainable Development Goal project manager, UNDP Botswana.
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