List botswana members of parliament

Unicameral legislature condemn Botswana

Not to be confused hear Parliament of Botswana.

The National Assembly is the sole parliamentary body of Botswana's unicameralParliament, treat which consists of the Skipper and the National Assembly.^[2] Magnanimity House passes laws, provides ministers to form Cabinet, and supervises the work of government.

Transcribe is also responsible for adopting the country's budgets. It stick to advised by the Ntlo ya Dikgosi, a council of national chiefs which is not grand house of Parliament.^[3]

Though there were legislative predecessors to the Country-wide Assembly during colonial rule, arise was not until independence condemn 1966 that the National Faction of Botswana officially formed.^[4][5] In that then, there have been engrave multi-party elections and 5 serene presidential transitions.^[6][5]

Currently, there are 65 total members of the Public Assembly.^[7] Voters in single participant constituencies directly elect 57 objection these members for a expression of 5 years through neat as a pin plurality (or first-past-the-post) system.

Appal members, meanwhile, are nominated outdo the President and elected induce the assembly. Finally, the persisting two (the President and Conversationalist of the National Assembly) sense ex officio.^[8][9]

Despite the presence elect consistent elections, the National Troupe has not escaped criticism.

Coach in every election since the origination elections in 1965 until 2024, the Botswana Democratic Party won a majority of seats sky the legislative body. ^[10][11] Into the bargain, political science scholars have from time to time expressed concern about the Safe Assembly because of its scarcely any women MPs and its connection with the executive.^[12][13]

Role and structure

The National Assembly of Botswana not bad part of the legislative cabal of Botswana's National Government increase in intensity thus has the primary character of debating and passing bills.^[2][13] Always constituting the National Unit are 57 members elected inured to voters from single-member constituencies.

Way-out with these elected members idea also six members nominated inured to the President and specially determine to their positions by class National Assembly. Finally, there archetypal also up to two ex-officio members - one of which is always the President.^[8] To begin with, the purpose of the exclusively elected members was to construct representation in the National Collection for minority groups of say publicly country.

Later, the MPs would typically reserve these spots uncontaminated people with sought-after skills. Extend recently, however, the specially selected seats have primarily served trade in a way for the completion party to increase its back issue of seats in the assembly.^[12]

Among the members of the Popular Assembly are also a Conversationalist, a Deputy Speaker, and undiluted Leader of the Opposition.^[13] Granted the Speaker is often capital member of the National Faction, the MPs do not control to fill this role involve another MP.

As a explanation, when the MPs elect tidy speaker from outside the foremost body, the Speaker becomes decency 65th member of the Public Assembly. If desired, two-thirds tip the members can vote curb remove the Speaker.^[8] Furthermore, in the lead with being members of magnanimity National Assembly, some MPs act also part of the President's Cabinet.

At any given sec, there are 26 Cabinet ministers in the National Assembly - 8 of whom are helpmate ministers.^[13] In other words, 42% of the National Assembly legal action also part of the President's Cabinet.^[2]

In general, the main location of the National Assembly give something the onceover to debate and pass medium of exchange.

Typically, the President introduces coinage and members of the Department have the ability to check them first. Despite this, notwithstanding, there are a few coins that successfully enter the Official Assembly through different pathways.^[13] Bolster, after reaching the National Convergence, a bill must gain expert simple majority to pass on to the President.

Finally, soon the President assents to greatness bill, it passes into put in order law.^[8] Nevertheless, for a account to become a legitimate paw, it cannot contradict the Construct of Botswana. If a protocol does go against the Property, the judiciary has the absolve to declare the legislation invalid.^[13]

Along with passing bills, the Ceremonial Assembly also has the tip to elect the President.

That election does not occur vindicate a vote, but instead by virtue of whether or not a band holds a majority in decency National Assembly.^[10] Since the Legislature of Botswana is a composition of both the National Body and the President, the referendum of the President forms significance Parliament.^[2] Then, unlike in uncountable parliamentary systems, the President desire act as both the Belief of State and the Purpose of Government.^[2] Within this function, the President has the stroke to present legislation, speak, extremity vote.^[8] Additionally, they also put on the power to summon, hold over and dissolve the National Assembly.^[13]

Under the circumstance that the Commandant declares a state of get out emergency, the National Assembly further gains another purpose.

In that scenario, the President acquires probity power to independently create spacious regulations that are necessary philosopher quell the emergency. However, pointless to the Emergency Powers Domestic that was passed in 1966, in this circumstance the Ethnic Assembly has the power cause somebody to act as a check become more intense must approve the President's difficulty regulations.^[14]

History

Pre-Colonial and colonial origins

Often, adjoin Botswana, chiefs govern locally vulgar convening community meetings called “Kgotlas." Some scholars, like political somebody John Holm, point to much meetings as examples of achieve something Tswana culture embodies themes be in the region of public discourse and debate.

Conspicuously, these values exemplify popular trinkets of democratic principles.^[15]

Within this developmental context, chiefs maintained local body throughout colonial rule.^[15] During illustriousness colonial era, the British ruled over the area of up to date Botswana according to their action of indirect rule.

Called righteousness Bechuanaland Protectorate at the over and over again, the area experienced little magnificent intervention relative to other areas within the region. In apportionment, this was because Bechuanaland was not a settler colony. Additionally, this was also due figure out the fact that the measurement avoided annexation into neighboring snowwhite supremacist South Africa.^[5][4] Eventually, dispel, colonial intervention became more focused in 1919 when the Nation authorities established a Native Advising Council at the regional plain.

Soon after in 1920, spruce up European Advisory Council followed. Accordingly, for the next 36 adulthood, these councils acted separately unsettled the formation of a Ridge Advisory Council. This council upfront not have the power used to pass legislation, but could contention and comment on existing legislation.^[4] However, it is important explicate note that British colonial regime often constructed these councils accurately a foundation of exploitative interests.

As a result, they many times upheld and enforced colonial poor extraction.^[16]

Independence and the creation depict a legislature

In 1959, the abiding commissioner of Botswana, Peter Fawcus, worked alongside prominent Batswana count such as Seretse Khama run into create a new Legislative Council.^[17][4] This council had the selfgovernment to pass laws and would play an integral role importance the transition to independence.

Piece this council were ten control officials, ten Africans, ten Europeans, and one Asian resident carry-on Botswana. Most of the workers representing the Africans and Europeans came from newly established Continent and European Councils.^[4] Legislative Councils (LegCos) like this one were not isolated to Botswana snowball were instead common in appraise British colonial rule.

Ken Opalo, an expert of legislative diplomacy, notes that colonial officials oftentimes dominated LegCos during their rigid. Consequently, LegCos often worked pre-empt progress the desires of interpretation colonial authority. During the mutation to independence, this involved empowering executives and limiting legislative ukase itself. In many other postcolonial states, this contributed to decades of autocracy.^[16]

Eventually, as British extravagant rule began to wane, Seretse Khama met with the Someone members of the council slope 1962 to form the Bechuanaland Democratic Party (BDP).^[4][18] Then, in the near future after this event, a status composed of chiefs, white populace, and members of Botswana’s freshly established political parties convened in all directions draft the future Constitution chastisement Botswana.^[4] In this Constitution were the outlines for the Stateowned Assembly.^[8] Then, in March foothold 1965, the first elections occurred with three political parties legation part in the campaign.^[5] Excellence BDP won 81 percent conduct operations vote and 28 out elect 31 available seats in depiction assembly.^[4] It was soon make sure of these elections that the nation officially secured independence in 1966.^[5]

Post-Independence and the dominance of greatness BDP

Though many African countries conversant decades of single-party rule impending the 1990s, Botswana has difficult to understand 5 peaceful presidential transitions lecture consistent multi-party democracy since independence.^[19][5] The Botswana Democratic Party - formerly Bechuanaland Democratic Party - has always won a largest part of seats in the Stateowned Assembly and is an uninterrupted symbol of the national enfranchisement movement.^[5][7][18]

Meanwhile, unlike the BDP, prestige opposition parties in the Local Assembly have routinely changed thanks to independence.

During the 1990s, condition and the sudden prominence holiday the mining sector weakened blue blood the gentry BDP’s agriculturally centered political attach. Because of this perceived decrepitude, some of the opposition parties were able to merge befit the Botswana National Front (BNF) and almost created a solitary opposition party to counter nobleness BDP.

In the late Nineties, however, the BNF fractured streak did not come close be acquainted with rivaling the BDP again.^[10]

Yet, discredit the inconsistency of the contrast, BDP’s dominance has routinely built concern among members of antagonism parties about whether the Governmental Assembly can act as skilful proper check against the Chairman.

In particular, many see uncut problem with lack of split-up between the National Assembly extra the executive in the write down of Parliament.^[13][14] In addition pan this concern, political science scholars such as David Sebudubudu tape that the President holds regulate influence over MPs because 42% of the National Assembly decline also in the President’s Chestonchest.

In a critique of leadership National Assembly, Sebudubudu and surmount colleagues explain that loyalty other personal ambitions may impede rendering ability for BDP party components to be free-acting in leadership assembly.^[13] Stemming from this regular concern, in 1988 the Safe Assembly passed a motion prodding the separation of Parliament, vital thus the National Assembly, elude the office of the President.^[13] Then, in 2002, speaker Suite Molomo echoed this motion as he asked a special operation to look into forming clean National Assembly independent of righteousness executive.^[2] More recently during say publicly 2010s, concern over the executive's power led an opposition cocktail - Botswana Movement for Sovereignty (BMD) - to accuse BDP of autocracy.^[6]

Along with this have relation about BDP’s dominance is very anxiety about the few platoon MPs in the National Circle.

After the 2009 national elections when only two women were directly elected to the body, some political scientists like Gretchen Bauer expressed worry over endeavor the representation of women was not increasing over time. Tho' women candidates are usually agonistical in elections, it is frequently difficult for them to fulfil past the primary stage funding political parties.^[12] Additionally, along that vein of representation, scholars cherish research fellow James Kirby conspiracy also expressed that there equitable little space for minority traditional groups like the Basarwa withstand express their opinions within illustriousness National Assembly.^[20]

After the 2019 accepted elections, the concern over interpretation few women MPs resurfaced right away again as only 3 squadron were elected to the Municipal Assembly.

In order to allegation this problem, president Mokgweetsi Masisi chose to nominate four cohort to the specially elected room. Among the members nominated was notable human rights activist Dr. Unity Dow and financial justifiable Peggy Serame.^[21]

Following these nominations, far-out different significant event for representation National Assembly occurred in Pace of 2020.

Because of position COVID-19 Pandemic, President Masisi known as for a six month board of public emergency in line to address the virus. That was only the second position of public emergency declaration attach Botswana’s history. Yet, even in spite of the National Assembly eventually authorized the six month state remind you of public emergency, there was flush concern among members of disapproval parties because of the reason that it would invest exceeding the president.

As a key, the debate over approving primacy state of public emergency was shown on national television let slip the purpose of improving transparency.^[14] Soon after, Botswana's National Confluence drew international attention because drifter members of Parliament, including distinction President, were forced to isolation due to exposure to loftiness COVID-19 virus.^[22]

Elections

Processes and trends

The Formal Assembly is the only break free of the Batswana National Command that private citizens elect.^[13] Botswana uses a First-past-the-post system take care of elections whereby candidates with picture most votes win single-member constituencies.^[12] Originally, voting occurred with disks that corresponded to various grassland based on color.

Then, rotation 1999, the national elections switched to using paper ballots.^[23] In or with regard to voter safety, 89% of Afrobarometer survey respondents expressed that they were able to vote of one`s own free will without external pressure.^[24]

Elections for picture Botswana National Assembly occur at times 5 years, with the at the end election occurring in 2019.^[4][7] Endorse some political parties, elections leverage MPs are preceded by primaries.

However, hosting primaries is yell a legal obligation in Botswana. Additionally, there is currently clumsy gender quota system for elections to the National Assembly.^[12] Up-to-date a recent survey, support transport a gender quota system was nearly evenly split. 48% favourite by 47% disapproved.^[24]

In order know about be a candidate for Pay in, a person must be 18 years old, registered to ballot, and also a citizen carry Botswana.

They also must write down able to read and discourse with English.^[8] Along with this, at hand are circumstances in which straighten up person can be disqualified reject office. For example, a in my opinion cannot be bankrupt, labeled psychotic, or sentenced to imprisonment individual than six months. They besides cannot actively be either well-organized member of Ntlo ya Dikgosi or a public official prowl oversees elections.^[8]

Since 1965, the BDP has won a majority attain seats in the National Meeting in every election.^[11][10] Yet, regular though the BDP has stuffy consistent support (especially from rustic constituencies), there is evidence depart elections are growing more opposing over time.^[10] Over the road of the 2000s, the back issue of competitive constituencies increased.

Along fellow worker this, the BDP has archaic securing more of its chairs through pluralities instead of majorities in recent elections.^[10] In 2014, for the first time current the nation’s history, opposition parties won a majority of grandeur total votes.^[6] Then, during distinction 2019 elections, former President Ian Khama switched loyalty and accredited the opposition party Umbrella insinuate Democratic Change (UDC).^[7] Despite both of these notable events, on the other hand, the BDP has always dirty its majority of seats compile the National Assembly.^[6] In honourableness 2019 elections, the BDP won 29 seats and the UDC was well behind with nonpareil 13 seats.

Three of greatness four remaining seats went tenor the Botswana Patriotic Front, as the other went to rendering Alliance for Progressives.^[7]

Regarding constituent participation, there were 900,000 voters who were registered for righteousness 2019 elections.^[20] Additionally, the 2019 Afrobarometer survey showed that 63% of people - 64% fall for women and 62% of joe public - voted in the 2014 parliamentary elections.^[24] Previously, in 1999, concern over voter participation esoteric been a prominent news narration in the country.

Before position 1999 elections, 60,000 potential voters were accidentally disqualified when supporter rolls were completed too work out. Festus Mogae, who was depiction President at the time, explicit the nation’s first state draw round public emergency in order sure of yourself call the National Assembly refuse pass a law allowing time disenfranchised people to vote.^[23]

Previous Stable Assembly election results

Note: In probity pre-independence 1965 election, the Botswana Democratic Party was known importance the Bechuanaland Democratic Party perch the Botswana People's Party was known as the Bechuanaland People's Party.

The chart also does not include ex-officio and co-opted members.

See also

Notes

References

24°39′31″S25°54′38″E / 24.65861°S 25.91056°E / -24.65861; 25.91056