Africa-Press – Botswana. Leader of Parliament, Mr Slumber Tsogwane says President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi was referencing words expressed and captured in the Hansard, and that it was not unbecoming or demeaning to make references to the Hansard.
Responding to questions asked by MP for Maun West, Mr Dumelang Shaleshando last week about public statements made by the President using ‘inappropriate or uncouth language and uttering false statements’, Mr Tsogwane said neither should referring to such statements that were uttered by another be deemed inappropriate.
He said President Masisi made a statement at a political party setting, which in the true circumstances of ‘our political landscape’, equated more ‘with our rich culture of use of didactic language, euphemisms and zingers’, though could be perceived otherwise, also enriched our rhetoric on the campaign trail or freedom square, and less so eroding from the highest office in the land.
He said President Masisi’s ‘use of linguistic ability to convey a statement of fact, citing specific examples of beneficiaries of the vaccination campaign should be celebrated rather than questioned’.
He said it was for the good of the country that individuals concerned took the responsible step of being vaccinated and that they commended all those who availed themselves of the opportunity.
Mr Tsogwane, who is also the Vice President, said the President had on numerous occasions provided clarity on the issue, and that he, Mr Tsogwane, had personally requested Mr Saleshando to provide evidence of his allegations.
“We are still awaiting the honourable member to do so,” he said.
He said President Masisi had always denied awarding tender to his sister or siblings, and that he had indicated that any suspicion, knowledge or information of corruption by any citizen, including his family members, should be reported to the established institutions. He said in the same vein, President Masisi had always and continues to deny knowledge of or participation in corrupt practices of award of tender to his sister.
He said various ministers had detailed what was in the public domain about any tender award done legally, legitimately and transparently as with any other citizen so entitled, to those related to President Masisi.
“What is rejected with the contempt it deserves is the dishonest and malicious attempt to malign legitimate business practice or anyone who is related to His Excellency as being corrupt and illegal,” he said.
He said to remove doubt, he once again urges Mr Saleshando to be honourable and report instead of attacking a citizen who could not defend themselves in Parliament. He urged the MP to either take the attack to a place where His Excellency’s sister could defend herself by exposing the accuser to serious legal challenge outside Parliament where he basked under the privilege of protection, or that they must report to appropriate authorities then focus on the real issues that concern the vast majority of Batswana.
‘’He does this ignoring business that he and his own family have involved themselves with the government of Botswana. Come on member, be brave and be man enough, to step up and out, tell what you and your family has or is doing with government using the same rules and procedures as everyone else in the conduct of their business with government,’’ he said.
The leader of Parliament said it was Mr Saleshando who often used inappropriate language and was uncouth with it, as when he said to the Deputy Speaker of Parliament in Setswana ‘O maaka, o aka’. He added that it was him who frequently uttered false statements which demeaned the stature of his previous office as Leader of Opposition and current ordinary MP.
Mr Shaleshando had asked the Leader of Parliament about statements made by the President publicly demeaning a former MP in Serowe in 2022 following a suspected arson attack at a ministers residence.
A statement made at a BDP conference in Tsabong alleging that one opposition MP may be mentally unstable, a statement made by the President at a BDP rally on the 12th February, 2023 in Moshupa on COVID-19 vaccination by members of the opposition and a statement made by the President denying allocation of tenders to his sister.
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