HOW DO WE GET THE BEST OF PARLIAMENT IN THE NEXT 4 YEARS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COUNTRY’S DEVELOPMENT?

I congratulate all MPs of the 8^th Parliament, especially the 37 female MPs. In my opinion, the 8^th Parliament has not started well. I refer to the behaviour MPS exhibited on the night of 6^th January during the election of the Speaker. Citizens will not condone our lawmakers to become lawbreakers.

The ‘Winner Takes All’ mentality that has characterised our democracy till date will not work in this hung Parliament. Both sides of the House must therefore consciously work to promote a new culture of inclusion, consensus building, collaboration and cooperation. The Leadership of Parliament must be seen to be working together in a convivial atmosphere. The Business Committee which sets the agenda for each sitting must work behind the scenes to arrive at consensus before any formal commencement of business. The Whip system must be revised to give more room for MPs to vote as their constituencies will want and not as the party requires.

The current Standing Orders which regulates procedures in Parliament has been in existence for more than 20 years. For the past 2 Parliaments, a revised Standing Order has been drafted but not passed. This revised Standing Order formalises the culture of consensus building. A hung Parliament provides the impetus for Parliament to pass the Standing Orders expeditiously.

Finally, the Council of State must be the ultimate arbiter should Parliament itself not be able to manage their internal processes.

As a tax paying citizen, I do not expect the internal power politics of a hung parliament to affect the provision of needed development. Parliament has no excuse to delay the passage of key Bills and policies due to walk outs and petty squabbles just so that parties can celebrate empty wins. MPs must, at all times, work in the overall interest of the nation and its citizens.

  *This article was originally published in the Daily Graphic*