GCC leadership elections divide BDP councillors

Gaborone City Council (GCC) election for Mayor and Deputy Mayor billed for next week has divided the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) councillors.

Fireworks are expected at the BDP caucus meeting slated for this coming Sunday ahead of the Monday elections. Councillors are divided over the removal of Mayor Father Maphongo and his deputy Lotty Manyapetsa, who also serves as BDP Gaborone Regional Chairperson.

Both Maphongo and Manyapetsa are Specially Elected councillors. While some councillors believe the duo have failed in their two and half years in office, especially Maphongo warranting their removal, there are those who are fighting in their corner to have them retained.

Some have thrown their weight behind outgoing Finance Committee Chairperson Horatius Motamma of Itumeleng Ward in the Gaborone Bonnington North Constituency.

The councillors are apparently not happy with the leadership style of Maphongo, arguing that the council is failing to take developments to the Gaborone constituents.

It is argued that Maphongo’s priorities are misplaced and that he does not consider the needs of the people of Gaborone since he does not have a ward in the city.

Also tipped for Mayorship is Austin Abraham of Sebele Ward, while Oduetse Tautona of Kgale View Ward is being pursued for the position of Deputy Mayor.

GCC has a total of 36 councillors with 32 being from BDP and four from the opposition.

A lead campaigner for the retention of the current leadership Tshenolo Palai of Mosekangwetsi Ward, Gaborone West Phase 1 argued that they remain very resolute to continue with the leadership of Maphongo and his Deputy Manyapetsa.

Palai, who is also the Chairperson of the SHHA committee, told this publication that they are against the decision by some of their colleagues for a change of guard at the GCC.

He said they are working as a collective as the leadership of the council and are supporting each other, serving the manifesto of the BDP which brought them to the council in 2019.

“We all understand that we have been hit hard as the whole world by the Pandemic of Covid-19. We had challenges but never gave up as we have seen in the two and half years term some developments coming with the two Primary schools being constructed, some overlay of roads around the city, construction of other new roads, tower lights, solar street lights and parks being constructed,” he said.

According to Palai what their colleagues intend to do is to disrupt a plan already in motion. He said the political leadership of GCC has come up with strategies toward an adopted Pareto principle for the 2022 /2023 budget as the Gaborone region that “we pick projects of high magnitude like stormwater drainage, illumination of the City by Powering with solar Street lights and internal roads in our wards.”

He said all these need proper planning and give priorities looking into what the people in the city are looking for. “Yes, I'm aware of some Councilors who want to challenge the Mayor and the Deputy because of their anger and lack of understanding. We can't find ourselves being led by people who don't respect the administration of the Council all the time and bring disruption in the business of the council all the time leading to fighting and insulting others. We are being watched by Batswana out there as the party in control of the council,” he revealed.