By Poloko Mokhele
The National Assembly yesterday (Thursday) failed to table and pass reports from the portfolio committee on the economic and development cluster on the annual budget and estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2022/2023.
This after the House erupted into chaos after thirteen All Basotho Convention (ABC) members of parliament led by their leader, Nkaku Kabi told deputy speaker Lebohang Ramohlanka that they intend to move from the government side to the cross benches.
Ramohlanka stated that: “Motions that needs to be discussed in this House are brought through the business committee, and then put on the order paper. If such an item (of ABC MPs crossing the floor) is not on the order paper it means it is still with the business committee and will only be discussed then.”
Former Prime Minister and Abia #37 MP, Thomas Thabane also rose on a point of order indicating that “the All Basotho Convention has decided that it is no longer part of government and today we are crossing to the cross benches.” Thabane and Kabi then led thirteen MPs to the cross benches receiving loud cheers from the opposition side.
The deputy speaker took a decision to suspend the proceeding to Friday (today) blaming the suspension to poor technological systems in the National Assembly. “Honourable members, we seem to have a problem with the systems that assist us with the recordings of the hansard, the House is suspended until tomorrow at 09:00.”
The National Assembly reconvened yesterday after a two break which was meant to give the portfolio committees time to discuss the 2022/2023 budget estimates.
The tabling of the economic and development cluster report was expected to be passed through a vote, however signs were clear that there would be barriers as some ABC MPs and Alliance of Democrats had vowed to block its passing.
Deputy prime minister and leader of the House, Mathibeli Mokhothu was expected to request the MPs to suspend standing order number 91(5) in respect of the report of the portfolio committee on the economic and development cluster.
The standing order indicates that: “a committee report may not be debated in the House unless it has been circulated to all members of the National Assembly at least two days prior to the intended debate in the House.” The move would have given government a chance to pass the estimates without any barriers.
On Monday this week, legislators from nine political parties held a press conference at the new State House showing their support to Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro. Deputy Prime Minister Mokhothu announced then that the government is still in good standing with 66 seats supported by 21 from the ABC, 29 from the Democratic Congress, Movement for Economic Change with 5, 4 from Basotho National Party, 3 belonging to the Popular Front for Democracy and three from three other smaller parties.
