06 Nov 2024

The National Assembly has elected six Specially Elected Members of Parliament (SEMPs) of the 13^th Parliament in line with Section 5 (2) of the First Schedule of the Constitution of Botswana.

The process, which follows the general elections that were held on October 30 took place at the Main Chamber of the National Assembly in Gaborone yesterday.  and it President Duma Boko and 59 elected MPs participated in the election, following the nomination of the six by the President, in terms of Section 4 of the Constitution.

Maun West MP elect, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama and Okavango West MP elect, Mr Kenny Kapinga were absent and did not participate in the election.

Presiding over the election process, the National Assembly speaker, Mr Phandu Skelemani explained that President Boko was entitled to speak and vote in all proceedings of the National Assembly, in line with Section 58 (1) of the Constitution.

The six are former Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo, Miss World Africa 2024 and Miss Botswana 2022, Ms Lesego Chombo, Dr Nono Kgafela-Mokoka who contested for Kgatleng East Constituency, in the just ended general elections, under Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).

UDC Communications director Mr Moeti Mohwasa, former Gabane-Mmankgodi MP, Major General Pius Mokgware, and medical practitioner, Dr Steven Modise.

Speaking in an interview post the election, Ms Kenewendo said she was pleased to have been elected as SEMP and for an opportunity to serve the country.

“I’m really excited about this journey and re-building. I’m looking at what the opportunities are and how do we grow this economy again, and provide the right opportunities for young Batswana in particular,” she said.

Ms Chombo said she was honoured and humbled as a young person to have been afforded the opportunity to represent the youth in Parliament.

She said she knew and understood the needs of the youth and she would fairly and equally represent them.

Ms Kgafela-Mokoka promised to deliver exceptionally on any role that she would be tasked with as a SEMP, to represent Batswana well. She said she cared about Batswana, especially the youth and women.

“It is this compassion that has fueled my revolutionary fire, through my 41 years in politics and I don’t want to see children, women or any Motswana for that matter suffering.

That’s what drove me to aspire to be a people’s representative,” she added.

Mr Mohwasa thanked Batswana for having afforded the UDC an opportunity to lead the country saying he believed the party would make Batswana proud and strive to rule the country without any favouritism, to improve their livelihoods. He vowed to be a responsible leader and serve the nation well.

Maj. Gen. Mokgware expressed gratitude for having been elected as one of the SEMPs saying it meant a lot to him to be part of the change, while Dr Modise expressed honour for being elected since he did not expect it.

He said he was bringing with him his medical background expertise and skills to Parliament and was more than ready to serve the country and Batswana at large.

Meanwhile, Parliament will today hold a swearing-in ceremony of all the newly elected MPs, including the SEMPs, at the Main Chamber of the National Assembly.

The swearing-in ceremony will be immediately followed by the election of the speaker, deputy speaker and endorsement of the vice president.

The ceremony is schedule to be broadcast live on BWParliament Facebook page and other various media platforms. Ends