Maseru, May 18 — A motion on the report of the Portfolio Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, Immunities and Privileges concerning the code of conduct and ethics for Members of Parliament (MPs) was on Monday not debated without notice in the National Assembly due to its nature.
This followed a point of order raised by the Leader of Opposition, Mathibeli Mokhothu, who requested that the matter should not proceed without prior notice.
Mr. Mokhothu argued that the proposed code of conduct is important as it will apply to the entire House, therefore MPs should first be given an opportunity to study and understand it thoroughly through informal discussions.
He proposed that the Portfolio Committee first present the report to the Leader of the House, political leaders and other stakeholders so that they could review it and suggest amendments where necessary.
Mr. Mokhothu stressed that he was not opposing the motion, but rather requesting adequate consultation before debate.
However, the Parliamentary Chair of Chairs, Mokhothu Makhalanyane, opposed the request, saying the relevant stakeholders had already been invited for consultations but failed to attend, except the Deputy Prime Minister who is also the Leader of the House.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Tlohang Sekhamane, later put the matter to a vote, and the majority agreed that the motion should not be debated without notice.
Meanwhile, the motion was first tabled in the National Assembly on April 24 and is expected to be presented within three days.
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