UDC crisis rocks Gaborone Council

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday June 19, 2026 11:49

The development has exposed deepening fractures within council operations, raising questions about leadership coordination, administrative authority, and internal political cohesion.

The meeting was convened after GCC Mayor Oarabile Motlaleng postponed council proceedings for 14 days, citing fundamental disagreements over the preparation and delivery of his official speech.

According to the Mayor, he could not proceed with reading a speech that he had not been allowed to input into or influence, a position that effectively brought council business to an abrupt halt.

The decision to adjourn the sitting triggered immediate political ripples within the ruling coalition, prompting the UDC leadership to step in and engage its councillors in what insiders described as a frank, at times tense, discussion aimed at understanding the circumstances behind the breakdown in council proceedings.

Those present at the closed-door engagement reportedly included Phenyo Butale of the Alliance for Progressives (AP), Stephen Modise of the Botswana National Front (BNF), UDC chairperson Moses Bantsi, and Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ketlhalefile Motshegwa.

According to an insider, the meeting was marked by candid exchanges, with the party leadership expressing concern over a range of governance and discipline issues emerging within the council structure.

“There were issues that the party was not happy about,” the source said. “We were warned about at times supporting motions from opposition parties that are considered unnecessary. There was also concern about unity, because at times councillors end up attacking each other instead of working collectively.”

The insider further indicated that disciplinary and accountability matters also featured prominently in the discussion, particularly regarding alleged fundraising activities by the Mayor and questions about financial transparency and reporting mechanisms. Councillors reportedly raised concerns about how such funds are managed and whether proper accountability structures are being followed.

However, they clarified that there is an independent company set up apart from council, as a way of helping council and running other activities that councillors may need assistance with.

Another point of contention, according to the source, was allegations of internal exclusion within council operations.

Some councillors are said to have accused the mayor of selectively working with a specific group of councillors while sidelining others, a situation that has reportedly contributed to growing mistrust within the chamber.

“These divisions are becoming more visible,” the insider added. “Some councillors feel excluded from key processes, and this is affecting how council business is being conducted.”

Beyond political tensions, administrative friction between the mayor and the town clerk has also emerged as a central issue.

The Mayor is said to have raised concerns over a strained working relationship with the Town Clerk, arguing that lack of consultation has made it increasingly difficult to execute his responsibilities effectively.

It is alleged that Oarabile Motlaleng told the leadership that, earlier in his tenure, there was regular engagement with the Town Clerk on key council matters, including preparing speeches and handling official engagements.

However, he claimed that this consultative process had broken down in the latest instance, resulting in a communication gap that contributed to the postponement of the sitting.

According to an insider account, the Mayor described the working environment as “soiled”, suggesting that trust between him and the administrative leadership had deteriorated significantly.

The Town Clerk, Daniel Katjinotjiwa, has since issued a strongly worded statement challenging the legality of the mayor’s decision to adjourn the council sitting. He argued that the action was taken outside the provisions of the law governing local authorities.

In his statement, Katjinotjiwa cited Section 26(6) of the Local Government Act of 2012, which stipulates that any decision to adjourn a council meeting must be supported by a two-thirds majority vote of members present.

He maintained that this procedure was not followed in the GCC sitting that was adjourned on Monday. “The correct procedures were not followed. The adjournment is therefore without legal foundation and consequently null and void. I accordingly advise that the council should resume its normal business with immediate effect,” the Town Clerk stated.

His remarks have further intensified the standoff, effectively placing the legality of the adjournment at the centre of the dispute between elected leadership and administrative authority.

Following Tuesday’s engagement, it was reportedly agreed that council business would resume the following week. The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development was tasked with engaging the Town Clerk to mediate the dispute and restore functional relations within the council.

However, insiders noted that the issue of possible administrative reassignment remains unresolved.

While discussions on the matter are expected to continue at the employer level, it was emphasised that neither the mayor nor the Town Clerk can be compelled to work together indefinitely if relations remain irreparably strained.

“The issue of transfer will be discussed with the employer,” the source said. “Both the Mayor and the Town Clerk cannot be forced to work together if the environment remains dysfunctional.”

The unfolding situation has highlighted longstanding tensions between political leadership and bureaucratic structures within local governance, where overlapping authority often leads to friction over decision-making powers, procedural compliance, and accountability.

As Gaborone City Council prepares to reconvene, attention now turns to whether the mediation efforts will restore stability or whether deeper structural divisions will continue to disrupt municipal governance.

For now, the council remains in a delicate state of suspension, with political negotiations and administrative interventions determining whether normal business can resume without further disruption.

When contacted for comment, Motlaleng said: “It is true we met with party leadership on Tuesday. I cannot comment on our party internal matters. What I can simply state is that I adjourned council because I was not consulted or had input in my speech. I cannot comment on other matters.”

Town Clerk, Katjinotjiwa, refused to comment on the matter.