Bobirwa villages doing fine without councillors

Onalenna Kelebeile | Wednesday January 15, 2014 17:00

Tsetsebjwe ward councillor Gabofiwe Manyeula passed away last month while Bobirwa East civic leader Joseph Madome resigned in September 2013.

Madome resigned his council seat to pursue interest in the village traditional leadership.

Both councillors were from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). There will be no by-elections held for the two wards since general elections are expected to be held within a year of the two seats falling vacant.

To ensure that residents of the two areas are not disadvantaged, Bobirwa Sub-District Council has assigned two nominated councillors to man the wards.

The sub-council chairman Ishmael Legwaila said that in addition to the assigned civic leaders; “I also make sure that I become visible in those wards. I have made arrangements to visit the two villages to inform authorities and all stakeholders that I am available to offer the help they need from their councillors.”

“I am duty bound to ensure that those wards do not lack representation as it is our commitment as council,” he said.

Legwaila noted the challenge is that councillors are needed to be on the ground all the time to serve in the Village Development Committees, especially during the ploughing seasons.

Legwaila said that even area members of Parliament, Shaw Kgathi and Prince Maele have committed to giving necessary support to the two villages.

Moreover, the absence of the two ruling party councillors does not affect the party’s representation in council as BDP is still in the lead, with 18 councillors against two from opposition.