Moswaane thrown out

As he clashes with Madigele

Drama ensued in Parliament on Friday as the Member of Parliament for Francistown West Ignatius Moswaane lost his cool and hurled unpalatable words to his fellow Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) MP Dr Alfred Madigele.

Moswaane, who rose on a point on order seeking the Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Madigele to address the appalling conditions at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital in Francistown, lost his temper and accused the minister of making nasty remarks.

A visibly angry Moswaane pointed a finger at Madigele and said that he is not serious about addressing the dire health situation at Nyangabgwe.

“No you can’t say that to me and you are talking shi#$t! People are dying in that hospital and you don’t care!” he shouted, with Madigele remaining composed and just looking at him.

Irritated Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Kagiso Molatlhegi, tried to call Moswaane to order in vain. He asked him to withdraw his statement but the militant rubble rouser would have none of that.

Moswaane retorted: “I am not going to withdraw any word! It is the truth!” and refused to leave the house.

“We are expected to observe the decorum of this House. This is what is expected of us by people in the gallery, by people who listen to what we say. They don’t expect us (to be) insulting in this House. It can’t be right, it can’t be tolerated,” counseled Molatlhegi.

Molatlhegi had to call the sergeant in arms to escort Moswaane out but the outspoken MP refused forcing the parliament security officers to escort him out.

“Mr Speaker we are not your children but representatives of the people and you cannot oppress us,” he shouted out as he was bungled outside.

In an interview outside Parliament Moswaane said he over-reacted after Madigele said he was talking nonsense when he appealed for his intervention.

“I had notified the Speaker about the urgent question without notice in which I wanted to know if the minister was aware that referral hospitals are white elephants without equipment and drugs. He also wanted the minister to resign as he has failed his duties.

“I was shocked that the urgent question was not put through and wanted to know why?” he said. Regarding the use of unpalatable words in Parliament, Moswaane said that it was just a mild word.

Hitting back, Madigele accused Moswaane of spending most of the time sleeping inside the National Assembly, only to wake up and insult him. 

“Some people ba borolala in Parliament ba diiwa ke go rogana rather than engage in constructive criticism and civil dialogue and discourse,” he hit back, writing on his social media page.

The MP for Gaborone North Haskins Nkaigwa hit back at Moswaane, saying he was being unnecessarily dramatic because he realises that it is General Elections year.

“We have been raising concerns about the health facilities in Botswana and he was just quiet and now that it is elections time he is throwing tantrums and being populist,” he said, calling on Parliament to taken stern action against him for insulting a fellow MP.

This is not the first time that Moswaane has exchanged unsavory words in Parliament as in 2016 he once insulted Leader of Opposition Duma Boko.

He shouted at Boko “loyaranyana e ntlwaela ma&#pa” which translates (This lawyer is f@#king with me).”

This came about after Moswaane moved an urgent motion requesting Parliament to expunge from the Hansard a statement by Leader of Opposition Duma Boko on the diplomatic row between Botswana and China.

Boko had accused the Botswana Government of inciting the diplomatic row with China. The Chinese government, reacting to an unfavourable statement by the Botswana Government on the China Sea territorial dispute had temporarily closed its embassy in Gaborone in protest.