Khama’s compromise deal could save Muzila
The Mayor of Francistown Sylvia Tabitha Muzila, who is a specially-elected councillor for the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), has declared that she will defend her mayoral seat after her term came to an end on Monday.
The Mayoral elections for FCC will take place next week during a full council meeting. Muzila’s sentiments follow hard on a recent declaration by former Francistown Mayor Peter Ngoma that he will wrestle the Mayoral chain from the incumbent when her term ends.
Ngoma who is believed to be enjoying support from both Francistown West and East Members of Parliament will cross his fingers and pray that the two MPs snub Khama’s compromise deal and go ahead to influence his win against Muzila by lobbying their councillors to do so.
On the other hand, the James Kgalajwe led team which lost during the Francistown Regional Congress are intending to punish Ngoma and try to spoil his party for dumping them just a few days before the last congress.
An inside source from Tsholetsa House informed this publication that President Ian Khama highly regards Muzila for her excellent work and performance over the past years she served as a civil servant. Muzila is confident that based on her performance during her first term as the city mayor, a lot of developments have taken place including the nearly completed spaghetti intersection as well as the final opening of the Francistown Sports Complex which at one point had structural defects.
She strongly believes that she has the necessary strategic leadership and development of the city. “I should think I have achieved a lot since I became the mayor of this town and I will hope that my fellow democrats will support me to continue with my strategic plan to develop Francistown.
“As opposed to my other competitors who have so far declared interest to challenge me, I dare them to show me why they will be better developers of the city without any grassroots education in development,” she said. The BDP source said that Muzila’s second term prospects will be further bolstered by Khama’s one-candidate compromise deal in a bid to save the ailing party from further damage due to factionalism.
“Francistown councillors will endorse her with directions from the highest office like they have done in the past. Her winning prospects will also be boosted by the fact that Khama did not anger BDP members in Francistown region following the congress which went bloody followed by protests and an investigating task team which suspended those concerned. Her only undoing will be in the event Mokgweetsi Masisi and Nonofo Molefhi factions resurfaces during the caucus voting,” said the source.
