Sekgororoane defies UDC
Councillor for Tlogatloga Ward in Gaborone Bonnington North, Rhoda Sekgororoane is soon expected to face the music for defying the party caucus resolution, The Midweek Sun has learnt.
Sekgororoane challenged current Gaborone City Council Mayor Kagiso Thutlwe for the top council political office. This is against an Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) caucus resolution that Thutlwe should be supported by all UDC councillors.
Sekgororoane is a Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) councilor who had defected from Botswana National Front (BNF), but her latest action, supported wholly by ruling party councillors, has raised speculation that she could be headed for the BDP. UDC Head of Communications Moeti Mohwasa said as the leadership they have decided that members who defy the UDC caucus should be dealt with at individual party level.
BMD Secretary General Gilbert Mangole stated that it is clear that the UDC caucus which was binding, has been defied. Mangole told this publication that the BMD would take necessary steps.
“Due process of investigations would have to be taken into the matter. On the surface we see that the caucus was defied because even Sekgororoane who was nominated accepted the nomination. I would not comment any further otherwise I would be found to be pre-empting the outcome of the investigations,” Mangole stated.
However, Sekgororoane is not moved by any of the threats. She explains that she stood for what she believed was right. “I am happy for the councillors who showed confidence in me. I cannot be bound by a party caucus to do something which is right for the constituents of Gaborone. People were being threatened to align to the resolution but I cannot be bound by a resolution which was not even in black and white. There is nowhere I signed a piece of paper or document that binds me,” said the outspoken councillor. She said she had to have her name forwarded because she believes it was time for the council to be led by a woman. She said there are able-bodied female councillors that could lead GCC but because women are oppressed by their political parties they cannot take the lead.
“It is disappointing that I have indicated my interest and the party caucus dismissed me. But these are the very same opposition parties that talk about quotas for women representation in their manifestos. This means these parties are the same as the BDP. I discovered that I had to stand my ground because I saw that some of the women in this council are reluctant to have the voice of women heard and having women leading this council,” stated the unapologetic Sekgororoane.
She could neither confirm nor deny that these frustrations might force her to defect to the BDP. She said she ran away from Botswana National Front to join BMD because of the same situation she finds herself in at the BMD. Sekgororoane said she is ready for anything that happens to her for defying the caucus.
According to Sekgororoane even other female UDC councillors were against her challenging Thutlwe. She said this is why most women who are capable have dumped politics because fellow women do not support them.
